'Transmission Tracker - Dirofilaria'- a public dashboard to assess in real-time the temperature-bounded transmissibility of canine heartworm across Australia.

Aust Vet J. December 2024;102(12):626 - 629.

P J Atkinson¹, M Stevenson², R O'Handley³, T Nielsen⁴, C Caraguel⁵

¹ School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.; ² Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.; ³ School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.; ⁴ School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.; ⁵ School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Abstract

The causative agent of canine heartworm disease, Dirofilaria immitis, requires specific temperature conditions to mature within its mosquito vector, and therefore (re-)infect a canid host. Suitable temperature conditions are not continuously met for locations where most (>97%) Australians and their pet dogs live. The length of the disruption in the transmissibility of D. immitis varies greatly across Australia, and to some degree, between years. We developed an online dashboard 'Transmission Tracker - Dirofilaria' that processes near real-time temperature records across Australia and allows users to enquire about historical and current weather suitability for canine heartworm transmission at any Australian postcode of their interest. This information allows veterinarians to access when, and for how long, heartworm may be transmitted at a specific location, assess the associated risk of infection and advise on a patient-dependent dirofilariosis prevention plan for their canine patients and guardians. Our dashboard is publicly accessible at: https://heartworm-mapping.adelaide.edu.au/shiny/.

Article Tools:

Medline

Email to me

Grants:

The University of Adelaide

Archives Highlights:

Owner satisfaction and prognosis for return to work after pancarpal arthrodesis in working dogs in the United Kingdom: a retrospective study (2011-2020).
50% (5/10) owners stated their dog could perform normal duties; 4/10 (40%) could perform most duties with some allowances. 80% (8/10) owners rated the level of post-operative lameness as unaffected with a normal gait. 90% (9/10) owners were either very satisfied or satisfied with the outcome of the procedure, and 90% owners stated the financial investment was worthwhile.

Case Series: Computed Tomography Features of Extraskeletal Osteosarcoma in Six Dogs.
Although the presence of intralesional mineralization is not a pathognomonic finding, it was consistently identified in the present case series. Therefore, exOSA should be considered in the differential diagnosis when mineralization occurs in a mass unrelated to osseous structures.

Lightning deaths in three outdoor dogs: A case study.
The three dogs were found close to each other, under a truck with a series of damages, such as burning of the tyres, the electrical control unit, and the trailer's ABS control unit.

Retrospective cohort study on diseases and risk factors associated with death in hospitalized neonatal foals.
Most prevalent diseases were sepsis (43.9%), enteritis (14.0%), and omphalitis (9.0%). Case fatality rate was 33.3%. Neonatal sepsis significantly increased the risk of death.

A review of prevention and management of castration complications
Despite castration being one of the most frequently performed elective equine surgical procedures, complication rates are high and range from severe life-threatening conditions to mild complications that are of no consequence to the horse. This article will briefly review strategies to prevent complications and surgical castration techniques before reviewing, in-depth, the following complications: excessive scrotal swelling and seroma formation, scrotal infection, septic funiculitis, septic peritonitis, haemorrhage, evisceration, omental prolapse, pyrexia, tetanus, penile trauma, hydrocele, signs of colic, and continued stallion-like behaviour.