Canine dirofilariasis is currently uncommon in Germany, but its prevalence appears to be increasing due to rehoming of dogs from endemic areas. As part of staging of the disease, this case series describes clinical, radiological and echocardiographic findings in 37 dogs tested positive for Dirofilaria immitis between October 2016 and January 2019. Clinical history revealed 12 (32 %) asymptomatic and 22 (59 %) symptomatic dogs, with most of the dogs showing exercise intolerance, coughing or breathlessness. Thoracic radiographs were performed in 34 dogs and showed parenchymal lesions in 14 (41 %) and bulging of the main pulmonary artery (MPA) in 8 (23,5 %). Enlarged peripheral pulmonary arteries were noted in 22 (65 %) dogs, mainly affecting caudal peripheral pulmonary arteries. In 12 (24 %) of dogs with echocardiographic findings, thoracic radiographs were unremarkable. Echocardiographic examination was performed to assess secondary pulmonary hypertension (PH), identification of worm burden and dilation of pulmonary arteries. RPAD was applied for grading of PH in 34 dogs. Normal values (RPAD > 35 %) were detected in 11 (32 %) dogs, mild PH (RPAD 28–35 %) in 12 (35 %), moderate PH (RPAD 23–27 %) in 5 (15 %), and severe PH (RPAD < 23 %) in 6 (18 %) dogs. Severe systolic PH was confirmed by pressure gradient of tricuspid regurgitation in two dogs. Pressure gradients of pulmonary insufficiency were suggestive of diastolic PH in 5 dogs and correlated with RPAD < 23 %. Right ventricular hypertrophy was observed in 6 dogs with severe PH, flattening of the interventricular septum in 5 dogs. Right ventricular systolic time intervals showed a short acceleration time (<80 ms) and AT/ET of <0.31 in all dogs with severe PH. MPA dilation, defined as the ratio of MPA to aorta (MPA/Ao) exceeding 1.0 was found in 16 (43 %) dogs. Right pulmonary artery (RPA) dilation, defined as the ratio of RPA to aorta (PRA/Ao) exceeding 0.5 was detected in 25 (68 %) dogs. Double, linear parallel objects (DL) suggestive for macrofilaria were found in 28 (76 %) dogs. Of these, 7 (19 %) had a high worm burden occupying RPA and MPA. Six months after the 3rd Melarsomine injection a follow up examination was performed in 21 dogs. Main findings included persistent dilation of RPA in 11 (52 %), as well as RPAD indicative of PH in 11 (52 %) dogs. This case series demonstrates that>70 % of dogs had at least one relevant finding suggestive of PH prior to starting adulticide treatment. Therefore, thoracic radiographs as well as a thorough echocardiographic examination are recommended in all dogs that test positive for D. immitis. Echocardiography should focus on presence and severity of PH, for which RPAD has been proven to be useful. A follow up examination after adulticide treatment should be performed, which provides comparative assessment of presence and severity of PH. Dogs with persistent moderate to severe PH may benefit from long-term monitoring and medical management.

犬双丝虫病目前在德国并不常见，但由于流行地区犬的归巢，其流行率似乎正在增加。作为疾病分期的一部分，此病例系列描述了在37例Dirofilaria免疫炎试验呈阳性的狗中的临床，放射学和超声心动图检查结果在2016年10月至2019年1月之间。临床病史显示有12只（32％）无症状的狗和22只（59％）有症状的狗，大多数狗表现出运动耐力，咳嗽或呼吸困难。对34只犬进行胸片检查，发现14例实质性病变（41％），主肺动脉膨出（MPA）8例（23.5％）。在22只（65％）的狗中发现末梢肺动脉增大，主要影响尾部末梢肺动脉。在有超声心动图发现的12只狗中（24％），胸片未见明显变化。进行超声心动图检查以评估继发性肺动脉高压（PH），蠕虫负担的确定和肺动脉的扩张。RPAD被用于34只狗的PH分级。在11（32％）只狗中检测到正常值（RPAD> 35％），轻度PH（RPAD 28–35％）在12（35％），中度PH（RPAD 23–27％）在5（15％）和重度PH（RPAD <23％）在6（18％）的狗中。两只狗的三尖瓣关闭不全的压力梯度证实了严重的收缩期PH。肺功能不全的压力梯度提示5只犬的舒张期PH，与RPAD <23％相关。在6只PH严重的犬中观察到右心室肥大，在5只犬中室间隔变平。在所有患有严重PH的犬中，右心室收缩时间间隔显示出较短的加速时间（<80 ms），AT / ET <0.31。MPA扩张定义为在16（43％）只狗中发现MPA与主动脉的比率（MPA / Ao）超过1.0。在25（68％）只狗中检测到右肺动脉（RPA）扩张，定义为RPA与主动脉的比率（PRA / Ao）超过0.5。双，在28只（76％）的狗中发现了暗示巨丝虫病的线性平行物体（DL）。其中，有7个（19％）的蠕虫负担很高，占据了RPA和MPA。在第3次美拉索敏注射后六个月，对21只狗进行了随访检查。主要发现包括11头（52％）的RPA持续扩张，以及11头（52％）的RPAD指示PH。该病例系列表明，> 70％的狗在开始使用成年杀螨剂之前至少有一个相关的发现提示有PH。因此，对于所有检查结果呈阳性的狗，建议进行胸片和彻底的超声心动图检查 在第3次注射Melarsomine后六个月，对21只狗进行了随访检查。主要发现包括11头（52％）的RPA持续扩张，以及11头（52％）的RPAD指示PH。该病例系列表明，> 70％的狗在开始使用成年杀螨剂之前至少有一个相关的发现提示有PH。因此，对于所有检查结果呈阳性的狗，建议进行胸片和彻底的超声心动图检查 在第3次注射Melarsomine后六个月，对21只狗进行了随访检查。主要发现包括11头（52％）的RPA持续扩张，以及11头（52％）的RPAD指示PH。该病例系列表明，> 70％的狗在开始使用成年杀螨剂之前至少有一个相关的发现提示有PH。因此，对于所有检查结果呈阳性的狗，建议进行胸片和彻底的超声心动图检查D.肠炎。超声心动图应关注PH的存在和严重程度，事实证明RPAD是有用的。成年杀虫剂治疗后应进行随访检查，以比较评估PH的存在和严重程度。持续中度至重度PH的狗可能会受益于长期监测和医疗管理。