The symptoms of feline heartworm are often non-specific and transient, making it difficult to diagnose by clinical signs alone.
There are two serologic tests available—antigen and antibody tests. Antigen tests detect the presence of an adult infection and have a similar sensitivity to canine tests. The specificity is very high. Antigen tests are highly specific and result in few false positives. Antibody tests, on the other hand, indicate that the cat has mounted an antibody response to a previous infection. A positive antibody test may indicate that the cat is currently infected with juvenile or adult worms, or may indicate a previous heartworm infection.
The American Heartworm Society and other industry leaders recommend following up positive tests with:
- Another antigen test
- Radiographs
- Blood work, at the practitioner’s discretion depending on clinical assessment
This allows the practitioner to better understand the stage of infection in the cat.
Feline Heartworm Antigen Diagnostic Algorithm
View/print the feline heartworm algorithm. (PDF)
While there is no cure for heartworm infection, cats with clinical signs of the disease can be managed.
The American Heartworm Society Guidelines (PDF) list specific therapies available for heartworm-infected cats with or without acute signs. Therapies range from treating obvious clinical signs with prednisone to stabilizing acutely ill cats with treatments appropriate for shock.
Visit the American Heartworm Society for more details.
