Cardiac Biomarkers for Monitoring Canine Heartworm Disease: A Comparative Study of N-Terminal Pro B Type Natriuretic Peptide and Cardiac Troponin I Levels

Abstract

Canine heartworm disease is a global mosquito-borne parasitic illness that affects dogs. The main species of filarids responsible for this disease is Dirofilaria immitis. This article specifically explores the use of cardiac biomarkers, such as N-terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI), for diagnosing and monitoring canine heartworm disease. These biomarkers can indicate myocardial injury and heart failure, particularly in chronic infections. The study compares the levels of NT-proBNP and cTnI in dogs with heartworm disease, both clinically diagnosed cases and those without symptoms. The results reveal that cTnI is elevated in both cases, while NT-proBNP is increased only in dogs with clinical signs. These findings suggest that cTnI may be more accurate in detecting heartworm disease than NT-proBNP. The article concludes by emphasizing the significance of cardiac biomarkers in monitoring the different stages of the disease and evaluating the severity of heartworm disease in dogs.