Dog or canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) disease is increasingly prevalent in domestic dogs and wild canids (i.e. coyotes). Dog heartworm is endemic to Lake County where it is transmitted by mosquito vectors. This filarial nematode (roundworm) causes severe circulatory disease in dogs and coyotes, but also can cause respiratory disease in humans. Mosquitoes become infected by ingesting very small infective stages of the worm (microfilaria) while feeding on an infected dog. In the mosquito, the worm molts twice and moves to the mouthparts where they remain until the mosquito refeeds. During blood feeding, the worms move out of the proboscis and into the bite wound. In dogs and other canines, the worms molt to the adult stage and migrate to the large blood vessels and heart where mating and reproduction occur. Disease in dogs occurs when the number of worms becomes sufficiently large enough to impede blood flow and heart function. In humans, immature worms frequently become encapsulated in the lungs where they are detectable by chest x-ray.
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Website Accessibility Policy
Lake County Vector Control District is fully committed to providing accessible facilities, elements and
channels of communication to all members of the public. As part of this commitment, Lake County Vector Control District
has a policy of providing an accessible website compatible with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) and
commercial screen reading software. All features of the website are coded to allow individuals with vision and
other impairments to understand and use the website to the same degree as someone without disabilities. We welcome
feedback and can often resolve issues in a timely manner if they arise.
If you need any special assistance or accommodations:
Lake County Vector Control District has designated a compliance officer for website disability-related accommodations.
The compliance officer has received training in website accessibility and updates the site in accordance with those best
practices. Contact our accessibility officer to report an issue.
Compliance Procedures and Reports
In addition to testing with users with a wide range of disabilities and coding our website to WCAG standards,
Lake County Vector Control District regularly scans its website to ensure ongoing compliance, and makes timely
changes to any inaccessible changes, if any are found.
Linked Documents and Third Parties
Please note that this site may link out to third-party websites, such as state or federal agencies, that do
not have accessible content. This site may also include documents provided by third parties included in our
agenda packets, for example. While we cannot control the accessibility of content provided by third parties,
we are happy to assist any member of the public with reading and accessing content on our site.