LymeNet Flash: Positive Filaria =False Positive Heartworm Test.

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»	LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » Positive Filaria =False Positive Heartworm Test.

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Author

Topic: Positive Filaria =False Positive Heartworm Test.

Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524

posted

FILARIAL DERMATITIS IN A FERRET. B. Lewis1, G. Wisbrock2,
T. Craig3, C. Gardiner4. 1Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic
Laboratory, College Station, TX, 2Love Pet Hospital, Austin TX,
3Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, College Station, TX,
4Army Medical Corps, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, USA.

http://www.vetpathology.org/cgi/reprint/44/5/732.pdf

An 11-week-old, male, castrate ferret housed indoors presented to the

submitting veterinarian one month after purchase from a national chain pet

store. He had superficial scabbing wounds over the dorsal torso that were

Wood"s lamp negative and skin scrape negative. After incomplete response

to a month"s treatment with oral and topical medication, the lesion was

biopsied. A heartworm ELISA test performed at the same time was

positive. Histologic evaluation of the skin lesion revealed marked

superficial collagen degeneration with superficial and deep dermal

accumulation of moderate numbers of macrophages, neutrophils, and

eosinophils, edema, and strands of mucin-like material and small globules

of amphophilic material with a tiny eosinophilic center. The inflammation

was often centered on numerous, non-operculated, embryonated nematode

eggs. The epidermis had often separated from the dermis and the resultant

vesicles contained nematode eggs, degenerate leukocytes, small amphophilic

globules and strands of mucin-like material. Examination of biopsy

material and skin scrape detritus by two parasitologists (Craig, Gardiner)

revealed that the nematode eggs measured approximately 40330 mm, were

bilayered, and contained a microfilaria. A second biopsy of subcutaneous

tissue was negative for adult parasites. Despite this finding, a diagnosis of

dermatitis due to infection with Filaria sp. was made. Filaria taxideae is

a nematode that lives in the subcutaneous tissues of mammals, most

notably the skunk and badger. The female deposits her eggs in the skin

where they migrate to the surface and are scavenged by flies. We suspect

this nematode is the cause of the dermatitis in this case and speculate that

cross reactivity of filarid execretory/secretory antigens may have resulted in

a false-positive heartworm ELISA test. To the author"s knowledge this is

the first reported case of filarial dermatitis in the domestic ferret.

Is the heartworm test being used anywhere for

detection of Morgellons? Could it possibly be used?

[ 09-10-2009, 09:15 AM: Message edited by: Pinelady ]

--------------------
Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region
unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND
IgM neg pos
31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 +
DX:Neuroborreliosis

Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008 | IP: Logged |

lightparfait
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22022

posted

Do you believe that this form of filarial worm can be passed easily to humans, from their pets?

Posts: 1009 | From NJ | Registered: Aug 2009 | IP: Logged |

Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524

posted

I don't know. I do know it is possible this ferret has borreliosis. Undiagnosed.

--------------------
Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region
unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND
IgM neg pos
31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 +
DX:Neuroborreliosis

Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008 | IP: Logged |

Truthfinder
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8512

posted

Wow. That IS interesting....

Seems like there's an awful lot of 'dermatitis' and skin problems in dogs - and even cats - these days, and it sure makes me wonder if there could be a connection.

Also, heartworm is showing up in places where it never was before..... maybe these could be false positive heartworm test results?

--------------------
Tracy
.... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�.

Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005 | IP: Logged |

lymie_in_md
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14197

posted

Just a thought, but MMS is very, very good for pets. I've gotten both my dogs healthier using it. Recently one of my dogs had all the symptoms of lyme, joint issues, lethargy, fatigue, inability to go up and down stairs poor sleep habits. So, I used a cobination of black walnut tincture with MMS. It took about 3 weeks of treatment and all of these issues are gone.

I had to treat my other dog in the same manner but he was much more severe. I had to carry him for awhile to defacate, really had difficulty walking. It took about a month of treatment with MMS and some herbals. He's now been well for about 7 months now. No need to re-treat.

I'm surprised to see how well this treatment worked for my pets to get them well again. Dogs seem to do much better then humans when it comes to correcting issues. To treat all I did was put the MMS in their food, about 3 drops twice a day.

--------------------
Bob

Posts: 2150 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007 | IP: Logged |

glm1111
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 16556

posted

Very informative about the filarial worm connection. I really think that "Morgellons" is a co-infection of Filarial Worms. Willy Burgdorfer found them in the ticks he dissected.

If other worms can be passed from dogs to humans than I would think these would be no different. I think a lot of Lyme patients have this co-infection.

www.lymephotos.com

Gael

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PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW
RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS*

Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008 | IP: Logged |

Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524

posted

Your right. I am looking for a test for the psycodisease called Morgellons. I don't really mean that but that is what is being circulated about it.

--------------------
Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region
unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND
IgM neg pos
31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 +
DX:Neuroborreliosis

Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008 | IP: Logged |

Truthfinder
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8512

posted

That's really amazing about your dogs, Bob. Did you use the MMS straight from the bottle, or did you 'activate' it first?

--------------------
Tracy
.... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�.

Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005 | IP: Logged |

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