Albuminuria and proteinuria in dogs infected with Dirofilaria repens: A cross‐sectional study

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether Dirofilaria repens is capable of causing similar glomerular lesions, as does Dirofilaria immitis. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether D. repens infection could cause albuminuria or proteinuria. ANIMALS: Sixty‐five clinically healthy laboratory beagle dogs. METHODS: In this cross‐sectional study, dogs were tested for D. repens infection (modified Knott test, PCR test, D. immitis antigen test) and were grouped as “D. repens infected” or “control” dogs. Urinary albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio (UAC) and urinary protein‐to‐creatinine ratio (UPC) were measured from samples taken by cystocentesis. RESULTS: Forty‐three (26 infected, 17 control) dogs were included in the final study group. UAC but not UPC level was significantly higher in the infected group (UAC median 12.5; range, 0‐700 mg/g and UPC median 0.15; range, 0.06‐1.06) than in the control group (UAC median 6.3; range, 0‐28 mg/g and UPC median 0.13; range, 0.05‐0.64; P = .02 and P = .65). Overt proteinuria (UPC > 0.5) was present in 6/26 (23%) of the infected dogs and 1/17 (6%) of the control dogs. Albuminuria (UAC > 19 mg/g) was detected in 9/26 (35%) dogs in the infected group, and 2/17 dogs (12%) in the control group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: D. repens might cause similar glomerular lesions to those caused by D. immitis.