Invited lecture at AMVAC: At the core of the problem: epidemiology and diagnosis of heartworm disease

Andrei Mihalca, PCG founder & director, delivered an invited lecture at AMVAC entitled At the core of the problem: epidemiology and diagnosis of heartworm disease. The presentation focused on key aspects of canine heartworm infection, with particular attention to the epidemiological patterns of the disease and the diagnostic challenges it continues to raise in veterinary practice.

The lecture addressed the current relevance of heartworm disease as an expanding parasitic threat, shaped by vector distribution, environmental factors, host exposure, and regional differences in transmission risk. It also emphasized the importance of accurate diagnosis, especially in the context of infections that may remain clinically silent for long periods while progressive cardiopulmonary damage develops.

A central part of the discussion was dedicated to the interpretation of diagnostic approaches in everyday clinical work, including the strengths and limits of available methods and the need to integrate epidemiological understanding into case assessment. In this context, the lecture highlighted that diagnosis is not only a technical step, but also part of a broader strategy of surveillance, prevention, and case management.