In a retrospective study, the results of parasitological examinations of faecal samples from 8,560 cats and 24,677 dogs between January 2003 and December 2010 in Germany were analysed. 30.4 % of the examined dogs and 22.8 % of the cats were infected with endoparasites. The examination of the faecal samples from dogs revealed stages of Giardia spp. (18.6 %), Toxocara canis (6.1 %), Toxascaris leonina (0.6 %), Ancylostomatidae (2.2 %), Trichuris vulpis (1.2 %), Capillaria spp. (1.3 %), Crenosoma vulpis (0.4 %), Angiostrongylus vasorum (0.5 %), Taeniidae (0.4 %), Dipylidiidae (< 0.1 %), Mesocestoides spp. (< 0.1 %), Isospora spp. (5.6 %), I. ohioensis-complex (3.9 %), I. canis (2.4 %), Sarcocystis spp. (2.2 %) and Hammondia heydorni/Neospora caninum (0.3 %). Dogs in the age groups up to 3 months and > 3 up to 6 months of age showed significantly higher infection rates with Giardia spp. (37.5 % and 38.2 %, respectively), Toxocara canis (12.0 % and 12.4 %, respectively), Toxascaris leonina (1.1 % and 1.6 %, respectively), Isospora spp. (23.4 % and 11.8 %, respectively), I. ohioensis-complex (15.6 % and 7.2 %, respectively) and I. canis (11.8 % and 5.2 %, respectively) compared to older dogs. In faecal samples from cats, stages of Giardia spp. (12.6 %), Toxocara cati (4.7 %), Toxascaris leonina (0.1 %), Ancylostoma tubaeforme (0.2 %), Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (0.5 %), Capillaria spp. (1.0 %), Taeniidae (0.6 %), Dipylidium caninum (< 0.1 %) Mesocestoides spp. (< 0.1 %), Isospora spp. (6.0 %), I. felis (4.4 %), I. rivolta (2.2 %), Toxoplasma gondii/Hammondia hammondi (0.8 %) and Sarcocystis spp. (0.3 %) were detected. Cats in the age groups up to 3 months and > 3 up to 6 months of age showed significantly higher infection rates with Giardia spp. (19.5 % and 24.0 %, respectively), T. cati (8.1 % and 6.9 %, respectively), Isospora spp. (12.8 % and 8.6 %, respectively), I. felis (10.0 % and 5.9%, respectively) and I. rivolta (4.6 % and 2.9%, respectively) compared to older cats.

Infections with endoparasites in dogs and cats have been determined by analysing the results of faecal examinations (Flotation, MIFC, sedimentation, Baermann, smear, ProSpecT Giardia Microplate Assay). Samples of 8438 dogs and 3167 cats from the years 1999 until 2002 have been included in the investigation. 2717 dogs (32.2%) and 771 cats (24.3%) have been infected with endoparasites. In the infected dogs the following parasites have been identified: Class Nematodea: Toxocara canis: 22.4%, Toxascaris leonina: 1.8%, Ancylostomatidae: 8.6%, Trichuris vulpis: 4.0%, Capillaria spp.: 2.3%, Crenosoma vulpis: 0.9%, Angiostrongylus vasorum: 0.3%; Class Cestodea: Taeniidae: 1.2%, Dipylidium caninum: 0.4%, Diplopylidium/Joyeuxiella: 0.1%, Mesocestoides: 0.2%, Diphyllobothrium latum: < 0.1%; Class Sporozoea: Sarcocystis spp.: 9.0%, Cystoisospora spp.: 22.3%, C. canis: 8.0%, C. ohioensis: 17.0%, Hammondia/Neospora: 1.7%; Class Zoomastigophorea: Giardia spp.: 51.6%. In the 771 infected cats the following prevalences of parasites have been found: Class Nematodea: Toxocara mystax: 26.2%, Ancylostoma tubaeforme: 0.3%, Capillaria spp.: 7.0%, Aelurostrongylus abstrusus: 2.7%; Class Cestodea: Taeniidae: 2.6%, Dipylidium caninum: 0.1%; Class Sporozoea: Sarcocystis spp.: 2.2%, Cystoisospora spp.: 21.9%, C. felis: 15.3%, C. rivolta: 7.9%, Toxoplasma/Hammondia: 4.5%; Class Zoomastigophorea: Giardia spp.: 51.6%.

Originally published at: Schnyder, M; Tanner, I; Webster, P; Barutzki, D; Deplazes, P (2011). An ELISA for sensitive and specific detection of circulating antigen of Angiostrongylus vasorum in serum samples of naturally and experimentally infected dogs. Veterinary Parasitology, 179(1-3):152-158.An ELISA for sensitive and specific detection of circulating antigen of Angiostrongylus vasorum in serum samples of naturally and experimentally infected dogs Abstract Canine angiostrongylosis is an emerging cardiopulmonary disease in Europe which can be fatal if left untreated. We developed a sandwich-ELISA based on a monoclonal antibody (mAb Av 56/1/2) and on polyclonal rabbit antibodies directed against Angiostrongylus vasorum adult excretory/secretoryantigen for the detection of circulating serum antigen of A. vasorum. The sensitivity of the test was 95.7% (78.1-99.9, 95% CI) as determined with sera of 23 dogs naturally infected with A. vasorum. The specificity was 94.0% (83.5-98.7, 95% CI) using 50 dog sera (control group) submitted for reasons other than parasitic infections. Potential cross-reactions were investigated with sera of a group of totally 61 dogs with proven infections with Dirofilaria immitis (n = 23), Crenosoma vulpis (n = 14), Ancylostoma caninum (n=4) or Toxocara canis (n = 20). No significant difference was observed concerning the proportion of positive reactions between the control group and the group with proven helminth infections other than A. vasorum. In experimentally inoculated dogs with proven worm burdens of A. vasorum, the proportion of seropositive dogs increased over the first 3 months of infection, starting from 35 days post inoculation (dpi) which was before the onset of larval excretion. Ten weeks post inoculation, 98.6% of the dogs were seropositive, and circulating antigen persisted in two dogs with long-term follow-up over 286 and 356 days, respectively. In contrast, in dogs with a single treatment with imidacloprid/ moxidectin at four or 32 dpi, no circulating antigen was observed, while in dogs treated at 88-92 dpi, OD values decreased within 13-34 days. The specific detection of circulating A. vasorum antigen by ELISA represents a valid alternative for reliable diagnosis and for follow-up investigations after anthelmintic treatment. Moreover, the test can be used for mass screening in large epidemiological investigations.1 In experimentally inoculated dogs with proven worm burdens of A. vasorum, the proportion of seropositive 26 dogs increased over the first 3 months of infection, starting from 35 days post inoculation (dpi) which was 27 before the onset of larval excretion. Ten weeks post inoculation, 98.6% of the dogs were seropositive, and 28 circulating antigen persisted in two dogs with long-term follow-up over 286 and 356 days, respectively. In 29 contrast, in dogs with a single treatment with imidacloprid/moxidectin at four or 32 dpi, no circulating 30 antigen was observed, while in dogs treated at 88-92 dpi, OD values decreased within 13-34 days. The 31 specific detectio...

Canine angiostrongylosis, caused by the nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum, is an emerging cardiopulmonary disease in Europe which can be fatal if left untreated. We determined the diagnostic value of the specific detection of antibodies against A. vasorum adult somatic antigen, adult excretory/secretory (E/S) antigen and first stage larvae (L1) somatic antigen in ELISAs. Also, A. vasorum adult somatic antigen purified by monoclonal antibodies (mAb) was evaluated in a sandwich-ELISA. Among the crude antigens, the best sensitivities when testing 21 naturally infected dogs were obtained using adult E/S and somatic antigen (85.7% and 76.2%, respectively), which were comparable with the results of the sandwich-ELISA based on mAb-purified antigens (81%). The ELISA performed with L1 antigen had the lowest sensitivity (42.9%). In experimentally inoculated dogs, the sensitivities ranged from 97.7% to 100% with all test settings. The specificity was 98.8% (92.5-99.9%, 95% CI) with all ELISAs using sera of 82 randomly selected dogs. Cross-reactions using adult somatic, adult E/S and L1 somatic antigen were observed in sera of dogs infected with Crenosoma vulpis, Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilaria repens, and Eucoleus aerophilus. In contrast, using the mAb-purified antigens, the cross-reactions were minimal. Depending on the antigens used, specific antibodies were detected starting between 13 and 21 days post experimental inoculation (dpi), and at latest between 35 and 48 dpi, thus before or around the onset of patency. The serological follow-up of four A. vasorum-infected dogs after anthelmintic treatment at 88 dpi showed a decrease of antibody levels after drug administration, and the animals became seronegative 2-9 weeks later. Two untreated dogs remained seropositive. In four dogs treated 4 dpi, virtually no antibody-reaction was detectable, with the exception of the ELISA performed with L1 antigen. The early detection of specific antibodies against A. vasorum by ELISA represents a valid alternative for a reliable diagnosis and for follow-up investigations after anthelmintic treatment.

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