Scam Seller Charles Durand UPDATE Proven to Admin - Page 8

Western Rider, that's why I asked what the breeder had to say about the dog being HW positive. 

The SNAP testing can only detect antigens produced by sexually mature female heartworms [and there have to be at least 5 adult females present to create a detectable level of antigens]. The microfilaria tests are only applicable after there are sexually mature heartworms of both sexes present in the dog which have mated and are producing offspring.  Testing using DNA-amplification can detect presence of earlier stages of the larvae [L3 & L4], but aren't typically used in dogs because the samples must be sent out to a lab that offers that service, and there are limited labs that run it.

From the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School Diagnosis of Veterinary Endoparasitic Infections page:

Life Cycle:

The mosquito ingests a microfilaria when feeding on an infected dog. The microfilaria develops into an infective larva in about 14 days. When the mosquito again feeds on a dog, the infective third stage-larva is injected into the skin. The third stage-larva molts to the fourth stage within 48 hours. The fourth stage-larva migrates through the dog's tissues, eventually reaching the pulmonary artery, where it matures to the adult stage. The female worm lays microfilariae into the blood. The prepatent period is about 6 months.

Diagnostic Stage:

The only stage of the parasite that can be recovered for diagnosis is the microfilaria (a free swimming embryo found in the blood). However, microfilaria will be missing from about 30% of infected dogs and most of infected cats.  Therefore, serological techniques are usually used to make a diagnosis. In dogs and cats we can look for antigen produced by mature female worms (over 6 months of age). 

From the American Heartworm Society:

 

Increasing mosquito activity in some areas of Europe ( eg Bosnia, Slovenia ) makes it possible the larvae were deposited before entry to the States. I have seen the time to adult worm presence [from the point of the vector mosquito delivering larvae into the bloodstream] estimated as 'approx. 6 months'. The chart ^ Hexe shared from the AHS indicates '2 to 3 months'. There could be some variation.

Hund, there are 2 different 'life cycle' charts--the one I posted above, which is meant of for veterinary personnel and breaks things down by each stage of larval development, but it still indicates that the time from initial exposure [carrier mosquito deposits infective larval stage in dog] to the point where the parasite is sexually mature and is producing microfilaria is roughly 6 months. Here's the two newest versions; the first will be the one made for pet owners, and the second is the one created for veterinary personnel.

 

 

Thank you Hexe I was wondering if my information was incorrect as she said it was costing $1400 for heartworm meds if the dog only got them in the month? that Charles had her.

Western Rider, I'm a bit confused myself. IF Charles Durand truly only had the dog for one month, then the dog would have had to have become infected prior to him taking possession of her, because it would not be possible to determine the dog was infected one month after being exposed--there simply isn't testing that is advanced enough to detect antibody to, or DNA from, the larval stages at only 30 days post-exposure, and that's too short a time for 5 sexually mature females to have developed. I'd be interested in knowing what tests were used to diagnose the dog as infected.

I'm not clear on where Durand obtained the dog from--was it from the original breeder? Where is that person located? This would not be the first dog that was imported from Europe already infected with heartworm [primarily coming out of some of the Eastern European countries; I'm not aware of any coming in HW positive from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, etc.]. I find it interesting that he allegedly only paid the equivalent of USD $450.00 for the dog--that low a price would make me suspicious that something wasn't right with her.

To be fair, there have been reports of dogs here in the US which became infected despite being on preventative, cases where the continuity of treatment was unquestionably verified and still the dog was found to have adult heartworms present. It's not common, but it's not entirely impossible--though to the best of my knowledge, all of those dogs had spent time in the high-risk Gulf Coast states, especially Texas, Louisiana and Florida.

As far the USD$1400.00 for HW treatment, as I understand it this is for the treatment of a dog with adult heartworms, which is actually pretty reasonable...

No Heartworm positivity from Germany, Netherlands, UK etc etc because the appropriate mosquito is not there ( yet ). Its possibly only a matter of time - give it maybe another decade and we might start to see cases.

The dog came from Florida and was imported from Czech. I agree it looks strange but I informed the person who imported her about the heartworm so she is aware. Charles bought her from the person who imported her. She was pregnant when she was imported and had the pups here. I spoke to the breeder in Czech and he was shocked and said she was clear when shipped.

Update another woman got taken for a lot of money and no dog. She contacted the news and would like anyone taken to call and leave a message. The name is Brittany the number is  Edited by Admin You cannot show anothers personal information If you wish to  copy the section in the news paper here then you need to also add the link to the paper. 

Let's get this guy so no one else gets hurt. Thanks guys.

Also anyone who was taken should file a report in their own police dept. The more case numbers Brittany has the better chance of this getting news coverage

I am so sorry for breaking the rules. I will never do it again I treasure you guys to much