Crenosoma vulpisinfection in a four-month old puppy

Abstract

SummaryHere we report the case of a diagnostic and treatment challenge in a four-month old dog from England, presented with one-month history of unproductive cough. Antigen blood test for Angiostrongylus vasorum infection was negative. Thoracic radiographs revealed a generalised bronchointerstitial pattern and bronchoscopy showed moving nematodes in the mucus of the bronchial wall. Additionally, Baermann technique revealed a high burden of larvae per gram of faeces. Morphological and molecular analyses confi rmed that they were fi rst stage larvae of Crenosoma vulpis. The infection was fi rstly treated with a spot-on solution containing 10% imidacloprid + 2.5% moxidectin, but the dog was still positive after 13 days. Therefore, a seven-day course of fenbendazole was prescribed. This represents one of the youngest dogs ever reported naturally infected by C. vulpis. The scant number of reported cases of crenosomosis has led practitioners to consider it as a rare parasitic disease in dogs, delaying a correct and targeted on-time diagnosis. Further studies are needed to perceive the real prevalence of this lungworm and to understand if it is a rare parasite or just rarely diagnosed.

Crenosoma vulpis associated eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy in a young dog in Latvia

“…Adult parasites have also been reported in the Eurasian badger ( Meles meles ) 1 . This parasite was first reported in dogs in the United Kingdom in 1992 2 . After this first report, occasional cases have been described in dogs from several European countries, such as Spain, Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Belgium 3 and Czech Republic 4 .…”

“…There is also no evidence of a predisposition of sex or age for this parasitic disease 10 . However, it is believed that most dogs become infected at the age of approximately one year or slightly older 2 . The environment of residence is a proven risk factor for becoming infected by C. vulpis .…”

“…Specifically, heavier infections are associated with more pronounced and severe clinical signs. Typical signs include coughing, gagging and tachypnoea 2,4 . In the case of a light infection, the cough is dry, but when the dog suffers a more severe infection, the cough becomes productive 2 …”

“…10 However, it is believed that most dogs become infected at the age of approximately one year or slightly older. 2 The environment of residence is a proven risk factor for becoming infected by C. vulpis. Dogs living in rural areas have a higher risk of becoming infected than dogs living in urban areas.…”

Lungworm infections in dogs from Central Europe

“…In dogs, the disease in general is not life-threatening, but presents with various degrees of respiratory disorder, mainly chronic cough, and occasionally vomiting (Bihr and Conboy 1999;Colella et al 2016b;Matos et al 2016).…”