This case definition is used to evaluate and
categorize cases of heartworm disease reported in
animals to the Los Angeles County Department of Public
Health. It was developed by public health veterinarian
by reviewing published published literature and reported
cases of heartworm in LA County animals. Earlier case
reports of this disease were reviewed and a few
reclassified to meet this 2015 case definition.
Learn more
about
animal disease
surveillance in
LA County,
and about cases
of
heartworm
in animals in LA
County
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CASE DEFINITION - Heartworm Disease - 2015
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CONFIRMED |
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Two positive antigen
tests on two separate blood samples, or
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Positive antigen AND
positive microfilaria test, or
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Parasites seen on
echocardiography
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PROBABLE |
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SUSPECTED |
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- Positive antibody test (feline)
- Positive antigen
test, followed by a negative antigen test
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NOT A
CASE |
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No testing for heartworm
performed, or
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Positive Antigen test
followed by two negative antigen tests (i.e.
false positive)
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EXPOSURE
LOCATION |
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1n general, cases are considered to be
"Other" or "Unknown" unless the history
indicates no travel outside of area.
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UNKNOWN- Less than 2 years of travel
history available.
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LA COUNTY - Minimum of 2 years of
history available, animal did NOT travel
outside of LA County.
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SO CAL - Minimum of 2 years of history
available. Animal did NOT travel outside of
southern California.
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OTHER - Animal DID travel outside of
southern California.
For the
purpose of this
case definition Southern
California
includes the
following
counties: Los
Angeles, Orange, San
Luis Obispo,
Kern, Santa
Barbara,
Ventura, San
Bernardino,
Riverside, San
Diego & Imperial.
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RATIONALE FOR
SURVEILLANCE IN
ANIMALS |
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Animals cases
are sentinels
for the risk of
mosquito borne
disease in
general.
Wherever there
are more cases,
mosquito borne
disease risk is
higher. |
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REFERENCES |
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Last updated: September 28, 2017
Wilmington, DE 2014.