OBSERVATIONS ON THE ADVERSE REACTION TO DIETHYLCARBAMAZINE IN DIROFILARIA IMMITIS-INFECTED DOGS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 32  (2) , 115-118
Abstract
The severity of the adverse reaction, as assessed by clinical, hematological and biochemical abnormalities, following treatment of D. immitis-infected dogs with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) was related to the level of microfilaremia. The magnitude of change in the blood constituents studied was proportional to the severity of the side reaction. The most notable alterations in dogs experiencing a moderate or severe adverse reaction were a decrease in platelet numbers and fibrinogen level, a rise in serum transaminases and the appearance of fibrin monomers. The practical value of qualitatively and quantitatively characterizing the post DEC adverse reaction is discussed.