Acute neurological signs as the predominant clinical manifestation in four dogs with Angiostrongylus vasorum infections in Denmark

Gredal, Hanne; Willesen, Jakob L.; Jensen, Henrik Elvang; Nielsen, Ole Lerberg; Kristensen, Annemarie T.; Koch, J.; Kirk, Rikke Kaae; Pors, Susanne Elisabeth; Skerritt, G. C.; Berendt, Mette

doi:10.1186/1751-0147-53-43

Cited by 43 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 34 publications

(68 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The present case was characterized by major neurological signs associated with very mild respiratory signs. A minor proportion (approximately 4%) of A. vasorum infected dogs presents neurological disorders [20][21][22]. This central nervous system implication would result primarily from hemorrhages in the CNS induced by coagulation disturbances or alternatively by migrating larvae [22,23].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First report of a fatal autochthonous canine Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in Belgium

Jolly

Poncelet²,

Lempereur

et al. 2015

Parasitology International

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Canine angiostrongylosis is considered as an emergent disease in Europe and Canada. A fatal case of Angiostrongylus vasorum infection is described in a four and a half month old puppy born in Belgium. The dog was presented with marked neurological disorders, body weight loss, a profound weakness and mild respiratory signs. The dog was given antibiotics and mucolytic compounds with very little improvement and consequently was referred to a specialist for additional examinations. As the general condition of the dog was rapidly declining, the animal was euthanized shortly after on its owners' request and a necropsy was carried out. Extensive gross pulmonary lesions were observed and histopathological examination revealed the presence of numerous larvae with morphology compatible with A. vasorum. Larvae were also found in the product of a bronchoalveolar lavage but fecal material was not examined. The presence of A. vasorum circulating serum antigen was demonstrated through ELISA; additionally an A. vasorum specific PCR was performed on brain material and yielded a positive result. This case confirms that the clinical diagnosis of canine angiostrongylosis can be very challenging especially when respiratory signs are absent or very mild such in the present case. This is the first reported case of canine angiostrongylosis in Belgium.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First report of a fatal autochthonous canine Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in Belgium

Jolly

Poncelet²,

Lempereur

et al. 2015

Parasitology International

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Canine angiostrongylosis may cause severe or even fatal disease, frequently manifesting through severe respiratory signs and coagulopathies and occasionally through neurological signs (Garosi et al 2005;Koch and Willesen 2009;Gredal et al 2011). However, infections may also pass unnoticed when subclinical, or are misdiagnosed because clinical signs are so varied and/or non-specific.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Faecal detection of the lungworms Crenosoma vulpis and Angiostrongylus vasorum and serological detection of A. vasorum in dogs from the Czech Republic

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Dogs are definitive hosts for the lungworms Crenosoma vulpis and Angiostrongylus vasorum.Intermediate hosts are gasteropoda (Mollusca). In the past, lungworms in dogs were rarely identified in the Czech Republic and in neighbouring countries. A total of 253 dogs were sampled for faecal analysis performed by the Baermann method for isolation of first stage larvae (L1) of lungworms. A total of 193 serum samples were collected and analysed by ELISA for the detection of a circulating antigen and specific antibodies against A. vasorum. All dog owners were asked to fill out a questionnaire. Nine dogs (4.7%, 95% Confidence Interval, CI: 2.2-8.7%) were positive for the A. vasorum circulating antigen, seven dogs (3.6%, CI: 1.5-7.3%) had specific antibodies against A. vasorum; of these, three animals (1.6%, CI: 0.3-4.5%) were positive for both ELISAs. Most of them were under the age of three years. Only three of 13 seropositive dogs were not healthy, namely, in one dog vomitus was observed and two dogs were pyretic. Faecal samples of 5 dogs were positive for C. vulpis L1 (2.0%, CI: 0.6-4.6%). Angiostrongylus vasorum L1 were found in the faecal sample of one dog (0.4%, CI: 0.01-2.2%). This study illustrates the wide-spread occurrence of lungworms in the Czech Republic. Disease awareness of lungworms among animal owners and veterinarians should be implemented.

show abstract

“…The epidemiology of the parasite in further eastern European countries is poorly known. Infected dogs often present with severe respiratory symptoms but atypical clinical signs indicating coagulopathies and/or neurological dysfunctions (Mason 1989;Garosi et al 2005;Gredal et al 2011;Whitley et al 2005;Wessmann et al 2006) make the diagnosis of A. vasorum infections particularly challenging. Severe symptoms with frequently fatal outcome (Staebler et al 2005;Traversa et al 2008;Denk et al 2009) may therefore occur, because animal owners often become aware only late during the infection, due to the chronic and subtle course of the pathological processes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serological Detection of Circulating Angiostrongylus vasorum Antigen- and Parasite-Specific Antibodies in Dogs from Poland

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Dogs infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum, a potentially lethal parasite living in the heart and pulmonary arteries, may present severe respiratory and neurological sings and coagulopathies. Its occurrence is increasingly reported from various European countries, but little is known about its presence in Poland. In this first large-scale survey, 3,345 sera from polish dogs attending veterinary clinics in different parts of Poland for various reasons were collected and tested by an ELISA for the detection of circulating antigen of A. vasorum and by a separate ELISA detecting specific antibodies. A total of 0.51 % (n = 17, 95% Confidence Intervals, CI: 0.30-0.81 %) of the animals were positive in both ELISAs, while 0.78 % (n = 26, CI: 0.51-1.14 %) of the tested dogs were antigen-positive only and 1.29 % (n = 43, CI: 0.93-1.73 %) were positive for specific antibodies only. Regions with antigen-and antibody-positive animals were overlapping and distributed over the whole area of the country, with approximately one S110 Endopar asitEs third of positives close to the Baltic Sea, and a limited number of cases close to the German border. These results confirm the occurrence of A. vasorum in dogs originating from different parts of Poland. A. vasorum serology presents significant advantages (diagnosis before patency, single serum sample instead of repeated faecal samples, rapidity and affordability particularly in case of large number of samples), and it can be considered a valid alternative for diagnosis in individuals and in epidemiological studies.

show abstract

Acute neurological signs as the predominant clinical manifestation in four dogs with Angiostrongylus vasorum infections in Denmark

Cited by 43 publications

References 34 publications

First report of a fatal autochthonous canine Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in Belgium

First report of a fatal autochthonous canine Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in Belgium

Faecal detection of the lungworms Crenosoma vulpis and Angiostrongylus vasorum and serological detection of A. vasorum in dogs from the Czech Republic

Serological Detection of Circulating Angiostrongylus vasorum Antigen- and Parasite-Specific Antibodies in Dogs from Poland

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About