Antemortem diagnosis of canine neural angiostrongylosis using ELISA

Abstract

A 5-month-old female Kelpie developed paraparesis, hind limb ataxia and spinal hyperaesthesia 4 days after ovariohysterectomy. Neurological examination demonstrated upper motor neuron signs in the pelvic limbs with lower motor neuron signs in the tail. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis demonstrated an increased protein concentration and marked eosinophilic pleocytosis. The dog was known to have eaten rats, snails and slugs. A tentative diagnosis of neural angiostrongylosis was made and later confirmed using an ELISA based on soluble antigens obtained from larval 4 Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Antibody titres from the patient's serum and CSF were 800 and 6400, respectively. The dog was treated successfully with prednisolone. ELISA testing of serum may provide a non-invasive means for diagnosing neural angiostrongylosis in dogs.

Canine neural angiostrongylosis: a case–control study in Sydney dogs

“…A positive CSF ELISA result is currently considered the gold standard antemortem test for diagnosis of A. cantonensis infection in dogs. 9 Necropsy visualisation of A. cantonensis larvae is also definitive. Eosinophilic pleocytosis in CSF, together with negative serum antibody titres for neosporosis and toxoplasmosis and a negative serum antigen test for cryptococcosis (to rule out other causes of eosinophilic pleocytosis) could be considered the next best set of diagnostic criteria.…”

“…A positive CSF ELISA result is currently considered the gold standard antemortem test for diagnosis of A. cantonensis infection in dogs . Necropsy visualisation of A. cantonensis larvae is also definitive.…”

“…The first case of canine neural angiostrongylosis in Sydney was recorded in 1989 . An Angiostrongylus antibody ELISA test was subsequently used in Sydney for testing CSF and this allowed angiostriongyliosis to be diagnosed definitively antemortem for the first time …”

“…8 An Angiostrongylus antibody ELISA test was subsequently used in Sydney for testing CSF and this allowed angiostriongyliosis to be diagnosed definitively antemortem for the first time. 9 Cases in humans are most commonly reported after ingestion of infected slugs or snails, with clinical signs occurring 2-45 days after the ingestion of infective larvae. 3 Infection in humans may present as a severe, ongoing headache, although coma and death are also reported; other common clinical signs include neck pain, pyrexia and vomiting.…”

Canine angiostrongylosis: an emerging disease in Europe

“…It is especially prevalent in Latin America 16 . Although both A. vasorum and A. cantonensis 17,18 can cause disease in dogs, the remainder of this review deals only with A. vasorum .…”