A mature male and a mature female Dirofilaria immitis were found in the right ventricle of the heart of a naturally infected 2-yr-old male Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) that had died of severe lung congestion at a zoo in South Korea. Both developing embryos and microfilariae were present in the uterus of the female D. immitis. Although circulating microfilariae were not detected in blood or tissue, the Eurasian otter may serve as a definitive host for D. immitis.
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1 June 2003
EURASIAN OTTER (LUTRA LUTRA), A DEFINITIVE HOST FOR DIROFILARIA IMMITIS
Kiku Matsuda,
Byeong-Kirl Baek,
Chae-Woong Lim
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Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Vol. 34 • No. 2
June 2003
Vol. 34 • No. 2
June 2003
definitive host
Dirofilaria immitis
Eurasian otter
heartworm
Lutra lutra