Canine angiostrongylosis in Italy: occurrence of Angiostrongylus vasorum in dogs with compatible clinical pictures

Abstract

This study evaluated the perception of veterinarians in including the emerging metastrongyloid Angiostrongylus vasorum in the differential diagnosis for dogs referred with appropriate signs. Veterinarians at teaching hospitals, private practices or kennels collected faecal samples from 606 symptomatic dogs in six different areas of Italy. The samples were examined with the Baermann technique. Fourteen dogs scored positive for A. vasorum, all showing different clinical pictures, with the most common reason for inclusion in the study being a combination of respiratory signs along with general signs. The most reported sign was cough, followed by aspecific distresses. Other respiratory signs were dyspnoea, tachypnoea and breathing sounds, while bleeding diathesis occurred in one dog. Gastrointestinal disorders were diarrhoea and vomitus, while no neurological signs were detected. Four key cases are herein described, with a special focus on their clinical description, findings at the collateral diagnostic imaging and therapeutic options with moxidectin. This survey provides new data on distribution of A. vasorum in Europe and on the clinical impact of the disease. The results confirm that clinical angiostrongylosis overlaps a series of other conditions of dogs. Awareness among vet practitioners is discussed along with the importance of including A. vasorum on the list of differential diagnoses in canine clinical practice and of performing appropriate diagnostic methods.

The first report of Angiostrongylus vasorum (Nematoda; Metastrongyloidea) in Poland, in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

“…Also described is a neurological syndrome caused by the parasite eggs and larvae, which penetrate the blood flow to the brain and lodged in the brains blood vessels, causing apathy, paralysis, seizures aggression, shakings, blurred vision and even blindness and death. Failure of the liver and kidneys can also occur (Bolt et al 1994, Bourque et al 2008, Chapman et al 2004, failure and Hasan 2010, Traversa et al 2013, Eleni et al 2014 .…”

Evaluation of the Persistent Preventive Efficacy of 2.5 % Moxidectin/10 % Imidacloprid Spot-on (Advocate®, Advantage® Multi) in Dogs Experimentally Infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum

“…A commercial antigen test for dog serum is now also available (AngioDetectTM, IDEXX Laboratories, Ludwigsburg, Germany). Epidemiological surveys indicate that the prevalence of A. vasorum infection in dogs and foxes is increasing in various European countries (Traversa et al 2013, Taylor et al 2015. A significant increase in the prevalence of A. vasorum from 0.9 % in 2004 -2006 to 1.8 % in 2012 -2016 was found in a retrospective analysis of canine faecal samples from Germany (Barutzki et al 2017).…”

“…a snail or slug. Clinical signs of angiostrongylosis in dogs can be serious and may lead to death (Traversa et al 2013, Bolt et al 1994. In a study with experimentally infected dogs it was demonstrated that even the immature adults cause lung tissue damage (Schnyder et al 2009).…”

Retrospective Investigation on the Prevalence of Pulmonary Hypertension in Dogs with Bronchial and Upper Respiratory Diseases

“…In contrast to the systemic vasculature, which responds to hypoxia with vasodilatation to better perfuse hypoxic tissue, the pulmonary vasculature responds to hypoxia by pulmonic arterial vasoconstriction, which subsequently increases the pulmonary pressure (6). Few data is available on the PAH prevalence in dogs, except for selected conditions such as canine heartworm disease, left-sided heart failure and Angiostrongylus vasorum infection (12,13,14,15,16,17) Recently, some authors evidenced an association of pulmonary hypertension and increase serum CRP (C-reactive protein) concentrations in dogs affected by heartworm disease (12). Interestingly, the CRP concentration relates to the severity of endothelial arteritis, and not as a result of heartworm disease itself (12).…”

“…A total of 5 dogs (9.4%) had confirmed or probable PAH (Table 2), the prevalence in the overall referral population being 0.5 % and 1 % of dogs with valvular disease. (1,6,8,9,14,15,16,17,22,23,24). The degree of hypoxia that can cause PAH likely exists in a large number of dogs with both upper and lower airway obstructive diseases (9).…”