Heartworm. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the tail of a female heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis), showing its reproductive structures (c

---

Heartworm. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the tail of a female heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis), showing its reproductive structures (centre left). During the adult stage of its life cycle, this nematode lives in the right ventricle of animal hearts, where it can remain for many years. It is spread from host to host through the bites of mosquitoes. Primary hosts of the heartworm are canines including dogs, wolves, coyotes and foxes. Cats, ferrets and sea lions are less common hosts and, very rarely, humans can also be infected. Magnification: x125 when printed 10 centimetres wide.

---

Size: 4636px × 3803px
Photo credit: © EYE OF SCIENCE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: adult, animal, background, biological, biology, black, canine, close-, coloured, cycle, detail, dirofilaria, endoparasite, false-coloured, fauna, female, heart, heartworm, immitis, intestinal, invertebrate, invertebrates, life, medical, medicine, nature, nematoda, nematode, parasite, parasitic, parasitology, reproduction, reproductive, roundworm, sem, tail, ventricle, vulva, wildlife, worm, zoological, zoology, zoonosis, zoonotic