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Thomsen AS, Petersen MP, Willesen JL, Bach MBT, Kieler IN, Kristensen AT, Koch J, Nielsen LN. Clinical bleeding diathesis, laboratory haemostatic aberrations and survival in dogs infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum: 180 cases (2005-2019). J Small Anim Pract 2024; 65:234-242. [PMID: 38332620 DOI: 10.1111/jsap.13701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Bleeding diathesis is a complication in dogs infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum. This retrospective study investigated clinical and laboratory haemostatic differences in A. vasorum-positive dogs with and without signs of bleeding and impact of bleeding on survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS Demographics, type of clinical bleeding, haematocrit and a range of haemostatic tests, including thromboelastography and derived velocity curves were retrospectively registered from A. vasorum-positive dogs. All parameters were compared between dogs with and without signs of bleeding using univariable analyses. Binomial and multinomial regression models were applied to examine specific indicators in the bleeding dogs. P-values were false discovery rate adjusted, and adjusted P<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS One hundred and eighty dogs entered the study, including 65 dogs (36.1%) presenting with bleeding diathesis. Different types of cutaneous and mucosal bleeding were the most common clinical findings. Twenty dogs presented with neurological signs associated with intracranial and intra-spinal bleeding. One hundred and thirty-seven dogs had haematological and/or haemostatic laboratory analyses performed. Haematocrit, platelet count, thromboelastographic angle, maximum amplitude, global clot strength, maximum rate of thrombin generation and total thrombin generation were decreased, while prothrombin time was prolonged in bleeding dogs. Survival rate of bleeding dogs was lower at hospital discharge (76.9%) and 1 month after diagnosis (66.0%) than in dogs without signs of bleeding (94.8% and 90.1% at discharge and at 1 month, respectively). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Several haemostatic aberrations were detected in A. vasorum-positive dogs with bleeding diathesis. Bleeding was identified as an important negative prognostic indicator in A. vasorum-positive dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Thomsen
- Dyrlaegehuset Gentofte, Brogaardsvej 10, 2820, Gentofte, Denmark
| | - M P Petersen
- Vejen Dyrehospital, Oestergade 12, 6600, Vejen, Denmark
| | - J L Willesen
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlaegevej 16, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M B T Bach
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlaegevej 16, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - I N Kieler
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlaegevej 16, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - A T Kristensen
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlaegevej 16, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - J Koch
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlaegevej 16, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - L N Nielsen
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlaegevej 16, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Massetti L, Schnyder M, Wiethoelter A, Brianti E, McDonagh P, Traub R, Colella V. A Taq-Man-based multiplex quantitative PCR for the simultaneous detection and quantification of Angiostrongylus vasorum, Crenosoma vulpis, and species of respiratory capillarids in canids. Int J Parasitol 2024; 54:185-193. [PMID: 38097033 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, Angiostrongylus vasorum, Crenosoma vulpis, Eucoleus aerophilus (syn. Capillaria aerophila) and Eucoleus boehmi (syn. Capillaria boehmi), commonly referred to as canine lungworms, have gained a growing interest worldwide as the result of their geographical expansion. Each of these nematode species differs considerably in its biology and pathogenicity. Despite their impact on dogs' health, these parasites are often underdiagnosed owing to diagnostic challenges. Here, we describe the development and validation of a Taq-Man-based multiplex quantitative PCR (qPCR) for the simultaneous detection of the main species of canine lungworms in faeces of infected dogs. Using 10-fold serial dilutions of synthetic gene block fragments containing individual sequence targets of each lungworm species, the analytical sensitivity of the assay ascertained was 1.84 ng/μl for A. vasorum, 3.08 ng/μl for C. vulpis and 0.79 ng/μl for Eucoleus spp. The sensitivity of the assays and their ability to detect mixed species infections were compared with microscopy-based techniques (faecal floatation and Baermann technique) applied to faecal samples submitted for lungworm testing through an accredited diagnostic laboratory at the Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Switzerland, and from community dogs as part of a research project on canine endoparasites in Cambodia. The multiplex qPCR displayed high diagnostic sensitivity (42/46, 91.3%; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 79.1-97.1%) and a diagnostic specificity of 100% (45/45, 95% CI: 90.6-100%), and was able to detect 42.9% additional mixed lungworm species infections compared with microscopy-based methods. Kappa statistics showed substantial agreement between the qPCRs and microscopy for mixed infections (κ = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.4-1) and Eucoleus spp. (κ = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.45-0.85) and almost perfect agreement for C. vulpis (κ = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.63-1) and A. vasorum (κ = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.84-1). This multiplex qPCR enables timely, accurate, and sensitive diagnosis of canine lungworm species in faecal samples and can be used to monitor the geographical distribution and emergence of these parasitic species, globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Massetti
- Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Manuela Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Anke Wiethoelter
- Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Emanuele Brianti
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Phillip McDonagh
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Australia, North Ryde, New South Wales 2113, Australia
| | - Rebecca Traub
- Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Vito Colella
- Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
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Koster L, Vogel J, Springer CM, Hecht S. Radiographic lung congestion scores in dogs with acute congestive heart failure caused by myxomatous mitral valve disease. J Vet Intern Med 2023; 37:1983-1991. [PMID: 37694988 PMCID: PMC10658542 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In humans, lung congestion scores are predictive of recurrence of acute congestive heart failure (CHF) and are superior to cardiac biomarkers in predicting survival. OBJECTIVES The primary aim of this retrospective study was to determine if a modified lung congestion score (LCS) in dogs diagnosed with acute CHF because of myxomatous mitral valve disease was associated with time until recurrence or death. ANIMALS Complete medical records were available for a total of 94 dogs between 2010 and 2019, but only 35 dogs fulfilled the criteria for inclusion. METHODS This retrospective study used descriptive statistics to describe the cumulative and corrected LCS. Correlations were used to examine the association of the corrected LCS and time until recurrence or death, selected echocardiographic variables, and timing of furosemide administration. RESULTS The mean LCS was 8.4 (SD 3.3) and corrected LCS was 0.48 (SD 0.19). The pattern was predominantly symmetric (40% of dogs) and focal (caudal) but more commonly right-sided when asymmetric (40% vs 20%). The median number of days after initial diagnosis of acute CHF to readmission and death was 150 days (range 4-572), and 266 days (range 5-965), respectively. No significant association between the dog's corrected LCS and number of days until readmission (r = .173, P = .42) nor survival (r = .109, P = .56) was found. There was a negative significant correlation (r = -.71, P < .001) between the time interval of furosemide administration and corrected LCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liza Koster
- Department of Small Animal Clinical SciencesUniversity of Tennessee College of Veterinary MedicineKnoxvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Jenna Vogel
- Department of Small Animal Clinical SciencesUniversity of Tennessee College of Veterinary MedicineKnoxvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Cary M. Springer
- Office of Information TechnologyUniversity of TennesseeKnoxvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Silke Hecht
- Department of Small Animal Clinical SciencesUniversity of Tennessee College of Veterinary MedicineKnoxvilleTennesseeUSA
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Nonnis F, Tamponi C, Tosciri G, Manconi M, Pudda F, Cabras P, Dessì G, Scala A, Varcasia A. Cardio-pulmonary nematodes of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) of Sardinia, Italy. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:1685-1688. [PMID: 37212835 PMCID: PMC10276099 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07882-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Cardio-pulmonary parasites, such as Angiostrongylus vasorum, Crenosoma vulpis, and Eucoleus aerophilus, pose a significant concern on account of pulmonary and cardiac problems they induce in dogs. While the red fox is known to be a key reservoir host for A. vasorum and may also play a role in transmitting C. vulpis and E. aerophilus, there has been no recent research on these parasites in foxes from Sardinia, with the most current studies dating back to 1986. A survey was conducted on red foxes in Sardinia, where a total of 51 foxes were collected, necropsied, and examined for adult worms in their hearts and lungs. The worms were identified using morphometric analysis and molecular methods. The results showed a 54.9% overall prevalence at dissection: 45.1% of the foxes were positive for E. aerophilus, 17.6% for C. vulpis, and 13.7% for A. vasorum. The molecular analyses validated the morphological characterization. In comparison to previous research, which found 13 out of 85 foxes to be positive for A. vasorum with a prevalence rate of 15.3% and 1 for E. aerophilus with a prevalence of 1.2%, this study showed an increased prevalence of E. aerophilus and C. vulpis, and a decrease in the prevalence of A. vasorum. These results indicate that the red foxes in Sardinia represent a reservoir host for cardio-pulmonary nematodes and it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Nonnis
- Parassitologia Veterinaria, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna, 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Claudia Tamponi
- Parassitologia Veterinaria, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna, 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Gabriele Tosciri
- Parassitologia Veterinaria, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna, 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Maria Manconi
- Parassitologia Veterinaria, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna, 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Flavia Pudda
- CARFS (Centro di Recupero della Fauna Selvatica Ferita) Forestas, Bonassai, Sardinia Italy
| | - Pierangela Cabras
- IZS (Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale) Sardegna, Tortoli, Sardinia Italy
| | - Giorgia Dessì
- Parassitologia Veterinaria, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna, 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Antonio Scala
- Parassitologia Veterinaria, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna, 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Antonio Varcasia
- Parassitologia Veterinaria, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna, 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy
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Cowie RH, Malik R, Morgan ER. Comparative biology of parasitic nematodes in the genus Angiostrongylus and related genera. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2023; 121:65-197. [PMID: 37474239 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2023.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
The rise to prominence of some Angiostrongylus species through associated emerging disease in humans and dogs has stimulated calls for a renewed focus on the biology of this genus and three related genera. Although significant research efforts have been made in recent years these have tended to focus on individual species and specific aspects such as diagnosis and treatment of disease or new records of occurrence and hosts. This comprehensive review takes a comparative approach, seeking commonalities and differences among species and asking such questions as: Which species belong to this and to closely related genera and how are they related? Why do only some species appear to be spreading geographically and what factors might underlie range expansion? Which animal species are involved in the life cycles as definitive, intermediate, paratenic and accidental hosts? How do parasite larvae find, infect and develop within these hosts? What are the consequences of infection for host health? How will climate change affect future spread and global health? Appreciating how species resemble and differ from each other shines a spotlight on knowledge gaps and provides provisional guidance on key species characteristics warranting detailed study. Similarities exist among species, including the basic life cycle and transmission processes, but important details such as host range, climatic requirements, migration patterns within hosts and disease mechanisms differ, with much more information available for A. cantonensis and A. vasorum than for other species. Nonetheless, comparison across Angiostrongylus reveals some common patterns. Historically narrow definitive host ranges are expanding with new knowledge, combining with very broad ranges of intermediate gastropod hosts and vertebrate and invertebrate paratenic and accidental hosts to provide the backdrop to complex interactions among climate, ecology and transmission that remain only partly understood, even for the species of dominant concern. Key outstanding questions concern larval dynamics and the potential for transmission outside trophic relations, relations between infection and disease severity in different hosts, and how global change is altering transmission beyond immediate impacts on development rate in gastropods. The concept of encounter and compatibility filters could help to explain differences in the relative importance of different gastropod species as intermediate hosts and determine the importance of host community composition and related environmental factors to transmission and range. Across the group, it remains unclear what, physiologically, immunologically or taxonomically, delimits definitive, accidental and paratenic hosts. Impacts of infection on definitive host fitness and consequences for population dynamics and transmission remain mostly unexplored across the genus. Continual updating and cross-referencing across species of Angiostrongylus and related genera is important to synthesise rapid advances in understanding of key traits and behaviours, especially in important Angiostrongylus species that are emerging causative agents of disease in humans and other animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert H Cowie
- Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii, Maile Way, Gilmore, Honolulu, HI, United States.
| | - Richard Malik
- Centre for Veterinary Education, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Eric R Morgan
- Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, United Kingdom; School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, North Somerset, United Kingdom
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Taulescu MA, Negoescu A, Ungur A, Toma C, Ionică AM, Gal C, Sandu I, Buzdea A, Tutuneanu A, Turcitu M, Horvat IE, Deak G. Is the Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in domestic dogs underestimated or misdiagnosed? A comprehensive presentation of four lethal cases. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1146713. [PMID: 37275619 PMCID: PMC10232773 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1146713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Angiostrongylus vasorum (A. vasorum) is a widely distributed gastropod-borne nematode, causing severe cardio-pulmonary disorders in dogs. In Romania, A. vasorum was detected in foxes and serologically confirmed in domestic dogs, but no clinical cases are currently diagnosed. Methods Four dogs with clinical history of respiratory distress, originating from different geographical regions of Romania, were included in the study. One dog (case 1) was clinically evaluated using thoracic radiology and cardiac ultrasound; examination of feces and PCR were also performed for the etiologic diagnosis. The postmortem exam was performed in the other three cases, followed by parasitological and molecular analyses. Results In the first case, parasitic pneumonia was suspected based on the radiographic examination of the thorax and the infection with A. vasorum was confirmed by L1 morphological identification and PCR. The main postmortem changes included large, coalescing, dark red areas of pulmonary consolidation (n = 3) and numerous adult nematodes in the pulmonary arteries (n = 2). The histopathological examination of the lungs showed necrotizing and granulomatous pneumonia with severe hemorrhages and chronic pulmonary arterial changes. Intralesional nematodes were seen in all necropsied cases. Additional inflammatory changes related to A. vasorum infection were identified in the brain and tracheobronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes (n = 2). Identification of larvae, histopathology and PCR confirmed the infection with A. vasorum. Conclusions This study describes the first cases of canine cardiopulmonary angiostrongylosis in domestic dogs in Romania, and focuses on clinical presentation, pathological findings and molecular analysis. Angiostrongylosis should be included on the list of differential diagnoses of canine cardiopulmonary distress and/or haemorrhagic diathesis in Romania and awareness should be raised among clinicians to avoid post-mortem diagnosis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian Aurel Taulescu
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Synevovet, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andrada Negoescu
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrei Ungur
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Corina Toma
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Angela Monica Ionică
- Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | | | - Ioana Sandu
- Pet Stuff Veterinary Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
| | | | | | | | | | - Georgiana Deak
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Oehm AW, Schnyder M. Adult parasite burden and excretion of first-stage larvae of Angiostrongylus vasorum in dogs: Methodologically relevant diagnostic aspects and associations with serological detection of parasite antigen and specific antibodies. Vet Parasitol 2022; 312:109814. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2022.109814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Carretón E, Morchón R, García-Rodríguez SN, Rodríguez-Escolar I, Matos JI, Costa-Rodríguez N, Montoya-Alonso JA. Comprehensive Map of Canine Angiostrongylosis in Dogs in Spain. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12172217. [PMID: 36077937 PMCID: PMC9454907 DOI: 10.3390/ani12172217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine angiostrongylosis is an emerging disease caused by Angiostrongylus vasorum, mainly affecting wild carnivores and dogs. In Spain, there are studies reporting infections in foxes, wolves, and badgers in different regions of the country. However, there are hardly any publications on its prevalence in dogs. The aim of this study was to complete and update the epidemiologic map of A. vasorum in dogs in Spain. A total of 5619 canine blood samples from all autonomous cities and provinces of Spain were collected and tested for the presence of circulating A. vasorum antigens. The overall apparent prevalence of canine A. vasorum infection in Spain was 1.39%. No significant differences were found for sex or age, but significant differences between outdoor and indoor/outdoor dogs were found. A high prevalence was also observed in the northern third of the country, where an oceanic climate prevails, being humid and rainy and where abundant vegetation can be found, thus favoring the proliferation of intermediate hosts. The results suggest that A. vasorum canine infections are heterogeneously present in a large part of the territory, demonstrating its expansion throughout the country, and therefore, awareness and prevention campaigns for this disease should be promoted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Carretón
- Veterinary Medicine and Therapeutic Research, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Morchón
- Veterinary Medicine and Therapeutic Research, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain
- Zoonotic Diseases and One Health Group, Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, Campus Miguel Unamuno s/n, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Sara Nieves García-Rodríguez
- Veterinary Medicine and Therapeutic Research, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain
| | - Iván Rodríguez-Escolar
- Zoonotic Diseases and One Health Group, Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, Campus Miguel Unamuno s/n, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Jorge Isidoro Matos
- Veterinary Medicine and Therapeutic Research, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain
| | - Noelia Costa-Rodríguez
- Veterinary Medicine and Therapeutic Research, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain
| | - José Alberto Montoya-Alonso
- Veterinary Medicine and Therapeutic Research, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain
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Galietta V, Eleni C, Raso C, Cocumelli C, Friedrich KG, Di Cerbo P, Iurescia M, Diaconu EL, Alba P, De Liberato C. Systemic Infection by Angiostrongylus vasorum in a Fennec (Vulpeszerda) in an Italian Zoological Garden. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11090965. [PMID: 36145397 PMCID: PMC9505467 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11090965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper reported a case of a metastrongyloid nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in a fennec (Vulpes zerda) kept in a zoo in central Italy. The fennec had shown paralysis of the hind limbs, anorexia, weakness and respiratory signs before death. Cardiomegaly and granulomatous pneumonia were the major anatomopathological findings. Inflammatory lesions associated with parasitic larvae were observed in the lungs, brain, liver, heart, spinal cord and kidney of the fennec at histology. A. vasorum diagnosis was confirmed by both morphological and molecular identification of adult worms recovered at necropsy. Fennecs are active predators and maintain their hunting behaviour in captivity. Hence, it is likely that the animal was exposed to infection by preying on parasitised gastropods, intermediate hosts of A. vasorum, entering zoo enclosures from the surrounding environment. This is the first report of A. vasorum systemic infection in a captive fennec (V. zerda) in a zoo in Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Galietta
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri”, Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0679099468
| | - Claudia Eleni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri”, Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Raso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri”, Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, Italy
| | - Cristiano Cocumelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri”, Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Pilar Di Cerbo
- Fondazione Bioparco, Viale del Giardino Zoologico 20, 00197 Rome, Italy
| | - Manuela Iurescia
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri”, Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, Italy
| | - Elena L. Diaconu
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri”, Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, Italy
| | - Patricia Alba
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri”, Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio De Liberato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri”, Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, Italy
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Bertazzolo W, Didier M, Ridolfi M, Venco L. Detection of a characteristic beta-2 peak in serum by capillary zone electrophoresis in dogs with Angiostrongylus vasorum. Vet Clin Pathol 2022; 51:70-76. [PMID: 35191050 DOI: 10.1111/vcp.13065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angiostrongylosis is an emerging canine parasitic disease that often causes polyclonal hyperglobulinemia. In the authors' experience, we have seen what could be a typical serum protein electrophoretic pattern characterized by a large, symmetrical beta-2 peak in dogs with angiostrongylosis. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of this pattern in dogs infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum compared with a randomly selected canine population. METHODS Serum protein capillary zone electrophoreses (CZEs) from dogs with angiostrongylosis were assigned to Group 1. The CZE pattern was classified as normal, nonspecific polyclonal, or polyclonal with a typical beta-2 peak. The frequency of this latter pattern in Group 1 was compared with the frequency of similar findings in a randomly selected canine sera group (Group 2). RESULTS Groups 1 and 2 included 22 and 3687 cases, respectively. Thirteen of 22 (59.1%) dogs in Group 1 had this peak in the beta-2 region. A similar CZE pattern was observed in 43 dogs in Group 2 (1.2%). The remaining dogs in Group 1 had a nonspecific polyclonal hyperglobulinemia (six cases), a normal tracing (one case), or an ambiguous tracing (two cases). CONCLUSIONS Dogs with angiostrongylosis commonly have polyclonal hyperglobulinemia, frequently characterized by a large and symmetrical beta-2 peak on CZE, which is uncommon in the canine population. Additional studies are needed to identify the protein composition of this peculiar beta fraction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mattia Ridolfi
- Laboratorio di Analisi Veterinarie MYLAV, Passirana di Rho, Italy
| | - Luigi Venco
- Ospedale Veterinario Città di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Hemostatic Dysfunction in Dogs Naturally Infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum—A Narrative Review. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11020249. [PMID: 35215192 PMCID: PMC8878016 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11020249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
This narrative review aims to describe Angiostrongylus vasorum-induced hemostatic dysfunction of dogs with emphasis on clinical and laboratory findings as well as potential therapeutic strategies for the bleeding patient. Canine angiostrongylosis (CA) is a disease with potentially high morbidity and mortality in endemic areas and with fatal outcome often associated with either severe respiratory compromise, pulmonary hypertension and right-sided heart failure, or hemostatic dysfunction with severe bleeding. The most common signs of hemorrhage are hematomas, petecchiation, ecchymoses, oral mucosal membrane bleeding and scleral bleeding, while intracranial and pulmonary hemorrhage are among the most severe. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying hemostatic dysfunction in these patients are presently researched. While the larval effect on platelets remains unknown, the parasite appears to induce dysregulation of hemostatic proteins, with studies suggesting a mixture of pro-coagulant protein consumption and hyperfibrinolysis. Importantly, not all dogs display the same hemostatic abnormalities. Consequently, characterizing the hemostatic state of the individual patient is necessary, but has proven difficult with traditional coagulation tests. Global viscoelastic testing shows promise, but has limited availability in general practice. Treatment of A. vasorum-infected dogs with hemostatic dysfunction relies on anthelmintic treatment as well as therapy directed at the individual dog’s specific hemostatic alterations.
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12
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Bottero E, Ruggiero P, Benvenuti E, Mussi E, Falcioni D, De Lorenzi D, Di Girolamo N. Presence of bronchial nodules, younger age, and heavier body weight are associated with a diagnosis of eosinophilic lung disease in dogs with cough. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2022; 260:414-421. [PMID: 34986119 DOI: 10.2460/javma.20.10.0559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the association between a diagnosis of eosinophilic lung disease (ELD) in dogs with signalment and bronchoscopic features and evaluate the accuracy of visualization of nodules for the diagnosis of ELD. ANIMALS 781 dogs with cough that underwent bronchoscopy between 2014 and 2016. PROCEDURES Data were extracted from the medical records of each included dog. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to investigate associations between ELD and patient characteristics. RESULTS ELD was diagnosed in 113 (14.5%) dogs. More than 3 nodular lesions of the bronchial mucosa were detected in 64 (8.2%) dogs. The odds of having ELD were greater in dogs with nodules (adjusted OR [aOR], 26.0; 95% CI, 13.0 to 52.0) and static bronchial collapse (aOR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.6), and lower in dogs having focal versus diffuse inflammation (aOR, 0.05; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.37). The odds of having ELD decreased for each 1-year increase in age (aOR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.80 to 0.92), and increased for each 1-kg increase in weight (aOR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.06). Visualization of nodules during bronchoscopy had a overall accuracy of 89.4% (95% CI, 87.0% to 91.4%), sensitivity of 41.6% (32.4% to 51.2%), and specificity of 97.5% (96.0% to 98.5%) for a diagnosis of ELD. CLINICAL RELEVANCE On the basis of high specificity and negative predictive value, lack of visualization of bronchial nodules during bronchoscopy can be used to preliminarily rule out ELD. However, visualization of bronchial nodules does not imply presence of ELD. This could be especially relevant when results of BAL cytology are available several days after the actual bronchoscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Nicola Di Girolamo
- 3College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
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13
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Globokar M, Pantchev N, Hinney B, Leschnik M, Peschke R, Schaper R, Schnyder M. Serological and faecal detection of Angiostrongylus vasorum in dogs from Austria. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2021; 26:100641. [PMID: 34879952 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Canine angiostrongylosis is a potentially lethal parasitic disease that can manifest itself with a broad spectrum of clinical signs, including respiratory distress, neurological and bleeding disorders, or non-specific signs. The occurrence of Angiostrongylus vasorum is widely reported in Europe, but very little is known about its presence in Austria. In this first large-scale survey, 1279 sera were collected from Austrian dogs and tested by an ELISA for the detection of circulating antigen of A. vasorum (sensitivity: 95.7%, specificity 94.0%) and by a separate ELISA detecting specific antibodies (sensitivity 81.0%, specificity 98.8%). Furthermore, 1040 faecal samples were tested for the presence of lungworm first stage larvae (L1). One dog (0.1%, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.0-0.4%) was positive in both ELISAs, while 1.2% (n = 15, CI: 0.7-1.9%) of the tested dogs were antigen-positive and 1.5% (n = 19, CI: 0.9-2.3%) were positive for specific antibodies. Overall, 13 dogs (1.3%; CI: 0.7-2.1%) were positive for A. vasorum L1 while 31 dogs were positive for Crenosoma vulpis L1 (3.0%; CI: 2.0-4.2%). One dog shed L1 from both A. vasorum and C. vulpis (0.1%, CI: 0.0-0.5%). Dogs positive for A. vasorum originated from northeast, southeast and south Austria (antigen and/or antibody detection), but also from north, west and southwest Austria (antibody detection) and from northeast and west Austria (L1 detection). One of 88 blood samples (1.1%, CI: 0.0-6.2%) submitted from the eastern part of Austria was positive by a rapid assay for A. vasorum antigen detection (Angio Detect™). Crenosoma vulpis positive samples originated from northwest, north, northeast, south and west Austria. These results confirm the very sporadic occurrence of A. vasorum in the investigated areas of the country. However, due to the substantial infectious pressure from the surrounding countries and the free circulation of dogs and foxes acting as wildlife reservoirs and due to clinical relevance for infected dogs, it is crucial to maintain disease awareness also in areas where the parasite has not yet been detected.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Barbara Hinney
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, Vetmeduni Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Leschnik
- Clinical Unit of Internal Medicine Small Animals, University Hospital for Small Animals, Department/Hospital for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roman Peschke
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, Vetmeduni Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Manuela Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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14
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Silva LMR, Hindenberg S, Balzhäuser L, Moritz A, Hermosilla C, Taubert A. Pneumothorax in a persistent canine Angiostrongylus vasorum infection. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2021; 26:100650. [PMID: 34879961 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Canine angiostrongylosis is a gastropod-borne parasitosis caused by the cosmopolitan nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum. It is associated with cardiorespiratory disorders and eventually fatal coagulopathies. A 6-months-old female dog previously diagnosed with bronchopneumonia and pneumothorax, treated accordingly without success, was hospitalized for further treatment. Complementary diagnostics confirmed previous findings plus pneumomediastinum, thoracic exudate, leucocytosis, thrombocytosis, hypercoagulability, and hyperglobulinemia. Coprological analysis showed a severe patent A. vasorum infection. After the third daily fenbendazole administration, all A. vasorum larvae were found dead in follow-up coprological analyses while in intensive care. Upon release, the dog was monitored until full clinical recovery 3 months later. Up to date, A. vasorum infection-related pneumothorax was rarely described, particularly with full recovery of such a young patient. Thus, a parasitological aetiology should be considered for dogs with severe bronchopneumonia or pneumothorax, especially in Europe and South America where increasing numbers of canine angiostrongylosis cases call for enhanced awareness of veterinary practitioners.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M R Silva
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubert Str. 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - S Hindenberg
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Clinical Pathology and Clinical Pathophysiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 114, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - L Balzhäuser
- Clinic for Small Animals, Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 114, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - A Moritz
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Clinical Pathology and Clinical Pathophysiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 114, 35392 Giessen, Germany; Clinic for Small Animals, Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 114, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - C Hermosilla
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubert Str. 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - A Taubert
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubert Str. 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany
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15
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Oborina V, Mõttus M, Jokelainen P. Angiostrongylus vasorum in Estonia: Multi-center study in dogs with clinical signs suggestive of canine angiostrongylosis, survey of potential risk behaviors among the dogs, and questionnaire survey of knowledge about the parasite among veterinarians. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2021; 26:100642. [PMID: 34879953 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Angiostrongylus vasorum is a parasite that can cause life-threatening disease in dogs. In recent years, A. vasorum has been reported spreading into new areas, in particular towards northeastern Europe. Despite being detected in wildlife in Estonia, no studies have focused on A. vasorum in domestic dogs in the country. We conducted a multi-center study in 2018-2019: at eight small animal clinics, altogether 115 dogs that had clinical signs that could be suggestive of canine angiostrongylosis were enrolled for testing using a commercial A. vasorum antigen detection test. In addition, we collected information on potential risk behaviors for acquiring A. vasorum infection - eating potential intermediate hosts and paratenic hosts - among the dogs, using a questionnaire for dog owners. Moreover, we surveyed knowledge about A. vasorum among veterinarians authorized to work in Estonia. None (0.0%, 95% confidence interval 0.0-2.6) of the 114 dogs included in the study tested A. vasorum antigen positive. Two (2.0%) of the 102 dogs included in the risk behavior analysis had been seen to eat slugs and/or snails, and this behavior was considered possible for further 17 (16.7%) of the dogs. Four (3.9%) of the dogs had been seen to eat frogs, and this behavior was considered possible for further 14 (13.7%) of the dogs. Thirty-eight (90.5%) of the 42 veterinarians who participated in the questionnaire survey selected the correct host and 28 (66.7%) selected the correct vectors of the parasite, from the provided options. Our results indicate that A. vasorum was either not established or not common in dogs in Estonia in 2018-2019, but this needs to be interpreted with caution due to the limited sample size, possible false negative results in recently infected dogs and the limited sensitivity of the test applied. Most local veterinarians seemed to know the parasite, and this awareness and knowledge among veterinarians should be maintained and further improved. Taken the presence of the parasite in local wildlife, it is prudent to include A. vasorum infection in the list of differential diagnoses for dogs with clinical signs that could be suggestive of canine angiostrongylosis in Estonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Oborina
- Small Animal Clinic of Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 62, Tartu 51014, Estonia; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 62, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
| | - Maare Mõttus
- Small Animal Clinic of Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 62, Tartu 51014, Estonia; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 62, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
| | - Pikka Jokelainen
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 62, Tartu 51014, Estonia; Department of Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, Copenhagen S 2300, Denmark; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, Helsinki 00014, Finland.
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16
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Gillis-Germitsch N, Kockmann T, Asmis LM, Tritten L, Schnyder M. The Angiostrongylus vasorum Excretory/Secretory and Surface Proteome Contains Putative Modulators of the Host Coagulation. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:753320. [PMID: 34796127 PMCID: PMC8593241 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.753320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Angiostrongylus vasorum is a cardiopulmonary nematode of canids and is, among others, associated with bleeding disorders in dogs. The pathogenesis of such coagulopathies remains unclear. A deep proteomic characterization of sex specific A. vasorum excretory/secretory proteins (ESP) and of cuticular surface proteins was performed, and the effect of ESP on host coagulation and fibrinolysis was evaluated in vitro. Proteins were quantified by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and functionally characterized through gene ontology and pathway enrichment analysis. In total, 1069 ESP (944 from female and 959 from male specimens) and 1195 surface proteins (705 and 1135, respectively) were identified. Among these were putative modulators of host coagulation, e.g., von Willebrand factor type D domain protein orthologues as well as several proteases, including serine type proteases, protease inhibitors and proteasome subunits. The effect of ESP on dog coagulation and fibrinolysis was evaluated on canine endothelial cells and by rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). After stimulation with ESP, tissue factor and serpin E1 transcript expression increased. ROTEM revealed minimal interaction of ESP with dog blood and ESP did not influence the onset of fibrinolysis, leading to the conclusion that Angiostrongylus vasorum ESP and surface proteins are not solely responsible for bleeding in dogs and that the interaction with the host's vascular hemostasis is limited. It is likely that coagulopathies in A. vasorum infected dogs are the result of a multifactorial response of the host to this parasitic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Gillis-Germitsch
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Kockmann
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lars M Asmis
- Center for Perioperative Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lucienne Tritten
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Manuela Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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17
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Gillis-Germitsch N, Kockmann T, Kapel CMO, Thamsborg SM, Webster P, Tritten L, Schnyder M. Fox Serum Proteomics Analysis Suggests Host-Specific Responses to Angiostrongylus vasorum Infection in Canids. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111513. [PMID: 34832667 PMCID: PMC8623225 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dogs infected with the cardiopulmonary nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum may suffer from respiratory distress and/or bleeding disorders. Descriptions of clinical signs in foxes are rare, despite high prevalence. To evaluate the impact of infection on coagulation and immune response, serum proteins from eight experimentally infected foxes before and after inoculation (day 0, 35, 84, 154) were subjected to differential proteomic analyses based on quantitative data and compared to available data from dogs. The number of proteins with differential abundance compared to the uninfected baseline increased with chronicity of infection. Bone marrow proteoglycan, chitinase 3-like protein 1 and pulmonary surfactant-associated protein B were among the most prominently increased proteins. The abundance of several proteins involved in coagulation was decreased. Enriched pathways obtained from both increased and decreased proteins included, among others, "platelet degranulation" and "haemostasis", and indicated both activation and suppression of coagulation. Qualitative comparison to dog data suggests some parallel serum proteomic alterations. The comparison, however, also indicates that foxes have a more adequate immunopathological response to A. vasorum infection compared to dogs, facilitating persistent infections in foxes. Our findings imply that foxes may be more tolerant to A. vasorum infection, as compared to dogs, reflecting a longer evolutionary host-parasite adaptation in foxes, which constitute a key wildlife reservoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Gillis-Germitsch
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland;
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Kockmann
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich), University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Christian M. O. Kapel
- Section for Organismal Biology, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark;
| | - Stig M. Thamsborg
- Veterinary Parasitology Research Group, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark; (S.M.T.); (P.W.)
| | - Pia Webster
- Veterinary Parasitology Research Group, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark; (S.M.T.); (P.W.)
- Prediagnostics and Service, Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark
| | - Lucienne Tritten
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland;
- Correspondence: (L.T.); (M.S.); Tel.: +41-44-635-85-01 (L.T. & M.S.); Fax: +41-44-635-89-07 (L.T. & M.S.)
| | - Manuela Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland;
- Correspondence: (L.T.); (M.S.); Tel.: +41-44-635-85-01 (L.T. & M.S.); Fax: +41-44-635-89-07 (L.T. & M.S.)
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18
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Colombo M, Traversa D, Grillotti E, Pezzuto C, De Tommaso C, Pampurini F, Schaper R, Drake J, Crisi PE, Russi I, Ripamonti M, Di Cesare A. Highly Variable Clinical Pictures in Dogs Naturally Infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111372. [PMID: 34832528 PMCID: PMC8621248 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine angiostrongylosis by Angiostrongylus vasorum is increasingly reported in both enzootic and previously free areas. The complex pathogenesis of the disease makes the clinical workup challenging. Infected dogs show highly variable clinical pictures, characterized by subclinical to life-threatening general, cardio-respiratory, neurological and/or gastrointestinal signs. The present study reports the high variability of clinical pictures from 36 dogs across central and southern Italy that were naturally infected by A. vasorum. Of them, 23 (63.9%) presented at least one clinical sign, while 13 (36.1%) were subclinically infected and apparently healthy. Overall, 19 dogs (52.8%) showed cardiorespiratory signs, 14 (38.9%) had non-specific abnormalities, 2 (5.6%) presented coagulation disorders and 1 (2.8%) had a severe neurological condition. Importantly, four dogs presenting with clinical signs had neither cough nor dyspnea. These results underline that angiostrongylosis should be included in the differential diagnosis, even when dogs display only non-specific clinical signs. The proportion of apparently healthy dogs highlights the relevance of routine copromicroscopic and/or antigenic tests in enzootic areas to avoid the sudden onset of potentially life-threatening signs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariasole Colombo
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.); (E.G.); (P.E.C.); (I.R.); (A.D.C.)
| | - Donato Traversa
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.); (E.G.); (P.E.C.); (I.R.); (A.D.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Eleonora Grillotti
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.); (E.G.); (P.E.C.); (I.R.); (A.D.C.)
- Ambulatorio Veterinario Reate, 02100 Rieti, Italy
| | - Carlo Pezzuto
- Ambulatorio Veterinario Pezzuto Carlo/Piano Noemi, 86010 Campobasso, Italy;
| | | | - Fabrizio Pampurini
- Elanco Animal Health, Indianapolis, IN 46240, USA; (F.P.); (R.S.); (J.D.); (M.R.)
| | - Roland Schaper
- Elanco Animal Health, Indianapolis, IN 46240, USA; (F.P.); (R.S.); (J.D.); (M.R.)
| | - Jason Drake
- Elanco Animal Health, Indianapolis, IN 46240, USA; (F.P.); (R.S.); (J.D.); (M.R.)
| | - Paolo Emidio Crisi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.); (E.G.); (P.E.C.); (I.R.); (A.D.C.)
| | - Ilaria Russi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.); (E.G.); (P.E.C.); (I.R.); (A.D.C.)
| | - Marco Ripamonti
- Elanco Animal Health, Indianapolis, IN 46240, USA; (F.P.); (R.S.); (J.D.); (M.R.)
| | - Angela Di Cesare
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.); (E.G.); (P.E.C.); (I.R.); (A.D.C.)
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Fuehrer HP, Morelli S, Unterköfler MS, Bajer A, Bakran-Lebl K, Dwużnik-Szarek D, Farkas R, Grandi G, Heddergott M, Jokelainen P, Knific T, Leschnik M, Miterpáková M, Modrý D, Petersen HH, Skírnisson K, Vergles Rataj A, Schnyder M, Strube C. Dirofilaria spp. and Angiostrongylus vasorum: Current Risk of Spreading in Central and Northern Europe. Pathogens 2021; 10:1268. [PMID: 34684217 PMCID: PMC8537668 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10101268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past few decades, the relevance of Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens, causing cardiopulmonary and subcutaneous dirofilariosis in dogs and cats, and of Angiostrongylus vasorum, causing canine angiostrongylosis, has steadily increased in Central and Northern Europe. In this review, a summary of published articles and additional reports dealing with imported or autochthonous cases of these parasites is provided for Central (Austria, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Luxemburg, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland) and Northern (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) Europe. Research efforts focusing on Dirofilaria spp. and A. vasorum have varied by country, and cross-border studies are few. The housing conditions of dogs, pet movements, the spread of competent vectors, and climate change are important factors in the spread of these nematodes. Dogs kept outside overnight are a major factor for the establishment of Dirofilaria spp. However, the establishment of invasive, diurnal, synanthropic, competent mosquito vectors such as Aedes albopictus may also influence the establishment of Dirofilaria spp. The drivers of the spread of A. vasorum remain not fully understood, but it seems to be influenced by habitats shared with wild canids, dog relocation, and possibly climatic changes; its pattern of spreading appears to be similar in different countries. Both Dirofilaria spp. and A. vasorum merit further monitoring and research focus in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Peter Fuehrer
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (M.S.U.); (K.B.-L.)
| | - Simone Morelli
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy;
| | - Maria Sophia Unterköfler
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (M.S.U.); (K.B.-L.)
| | - Anna Bajer
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (A.B.); (D.D.-S.)
| | - Karin Bakran-Lebl
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (M.S.U.); (K.B.-L.)
| | - Dorota Dwużnik-Szarek
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (A.B.); (D.D.-S.)
| | - Róbert Farkas
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1078 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Giulio Grandi
- Section for Parasitology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden;
- Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 756 51 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mike Heddergott
- Department of Zoology, Musée National d’Historire Naturelle, 25, Rue Münster, 2160 Luxembourg, Luxembourg;
| | - Pikka Jokelainen
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark;
| | - Tanja Knific
- Institute of Food Safety, Feed and Environment, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Michael Leschnik
- Clinical Unit of Internal Medicine Small Animals, Department/Universitätsklinik für Kleintiere und Pferde, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Martina Miterpáková
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia;
| | - David Modrý
- Biology Center, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic;
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources/CINeZ, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 16500 Praha-Suchdol, Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 61137 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Heidi Huus Petersen
- Centre for Diagnostic, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark;
| | - Karl Skírnisson
- Institute for Experimental Pathology at Keldur, University of Iceland, Keldnavegur 3, 112 Reykjavik, Iceland;
| | - Aleksandra Vergles Rataj
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Manuela Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland;
| | - Christina Strube
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany;
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20
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Tolhurst BA, Overall ADJ, King PJ, Morgan ER, Baker RJ. Co-Occurrence of Domestic Dogs and Gastropod Molluscs in Public Dog-Walking Spaces and Implications for Infection with Angiostrongylus vasorum: A Preliminary Study. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11092577. [PMID: 34573543 PMCID: PMC8472295 DOI: 10.3390/ani11092577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Angiostrongylus vasorum is a serious parasitic disease increasing in range and prevalence in Europe. The parasite passes through land slugs and snails before it can infect dogs but contact between dogs and these intermediate hosts is not well studied. We surveyed dogs and slugs/snails in parks and on streets in an urban A. vasorum hotspot area in southern England, United Kingdom, with the aim of determining the conditions under which they overlap. We counted 1672 slugs/snails and 763 dogs across seven sites. We found that habitat types in which the hosts were present differed, with dogs occurring 15× more often on hard surfaces (e.g., concrete) than woodland/scrub, but also occurring on natural grassland. Large numbers of slugs/snails were present 5.82× more often in woodland/scrub and natural grassland than on hard surfaces. Slug and snail species at risk of a greater likelihood of infection with A. vasorum were present 65.12× more often in woodland/scrub and 62.17× more often in amenity grassland than other habitats. The results suggest that contact between dogs and slugs/snails is most likely in amenity and natural grassland but that infection risk with A. vasorum is greatest in amenity grassland and woodland/scrub. Abstract Angiostrongylusvasorum is a helminth parasite of domestic dogs that is increasing in range and prevalence. Its lifecycle requires terrestrial gastropod mollusc (“gastropod”) intermediate hosts, but research is lacking regarding contact risk in situ. We studied co-occurrence between dogs and gastropods in dog-walking spaces in an A. vasorum hotspot in southern England, United Kingdom, with the aim of quantifying environmental and spatio-temporal overlap. We surveyed 390 quadrats and 180 point-counts along 3 km transects at seven sites, yielding 1672 gastropod and 763 dog observations. Common gastropods comprised Arion, Cornu, Monacha, Deroceras, Tandonia, Cochlicella, and Trochulus species. Habitat was the most important factor structuring both gastropod and dog presence and abundance. Likelihood ratio comparisons from conditional probability trees revealed that dogs were 15× more likely to be present on hardstanding surfaces than other habitats but were also present on natural and amenity grassland. Presence of gastropod species associated with high A. vasorum prevalence was 65.12× more likely in woodland/scrub and 62.17× more likely in amenity grassland than other habitats. For gastropods overall, high abundance was 5.82× more likely in woodland/scrub and natural grassland. The findings suggest co-occurrence is highest in amenity and natural grassland, but infection risk is greatest in amenity grassland and woodland/scrub.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryony A. Tolhurst
- Ecology, Conservation and Zoonosis Research and Enterprise Group, The University of Brighton, Huxley Building, Lewes Road, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK; (A.D.J.O.); (R.J.B.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Andrew D. J. Overall
- Ecology, Conservation and Zoonosis Research and Enterprise Group, The University of Brighton, Huxley Building, Lewes Road, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK; (A.D.J.O.); (R.J.B.)
| | | | - Eric R. Morgan
- Biological Sciences, Queens University Belfast, 19, Chlorine Gardens, Belfast BT9 5DL, UK;
| | - Rowenna J. Baker
- Ecology, Conservation and Zoonosis Research and Enterprise Group, The University of Brighton, Huxley Building, Lewes Road, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK; (A.D.J.O.); (R.J.B.)
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21
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Coagulation Status in Dogs Naturally Infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10091077. [PMID: 34578110 PMCID: PMC8467355 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10091077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiostrongylus vasorum infection has been associated with coagulopathies including hyperfibrinolysis. We compared coagulation status including thromboelastometry (ROTEM) parameters in dogs naturally infected with A. vasorum versus healthy dogs to determine clinicopathological parameters associated with bleeding, hypocoagulopathy, and hyperfibrinolysis. Clinical signs, white blood cell count, platelet count, hematocrit, plasmatic coagulation tests (PT, aPTT, fibrinogen concentration), D-dimer, and ROTEM S parameters (Ex-tem, In-tem, Fib-tem, Ap-tem) were analysed and compared between bleeding, nonbleeding, and control dogs and between hypo- and normocoagulable animals. Clinical signs of bleeding were present in 6/9 (67%) hypocoagulable and 1/9 (11%) normocoagulable dogs. PT, fibrinogen concentration, and several ROTEM parameters were significantly different between hypocoagulable and normocoagulabe A. vasorum infected dogs. Hyperfibrinolysis was identified in 44% of infected dogs and was significantly more common in bleeding and hypocoagulable dogs. Hyperfibrinolysis was significantly associated with low MCFFib-tem but not with low fibrinogen concentration or increased D-dimers. CFTEx-tem > 248 swas 100% sensitive and 89% specific to predict hyperfibrinolysis. Hyperfibrinolysis, hypocoagulability and bleeding are common in A. vasorum infected dogs. Only Ex-tem and Fib-tem parameters and potentially PT were associated with bleeding or hypocoagulability. Ex-tem analysis enables detection of bleeding, hypocoagulability and hyperfibrinolysis within minutes.
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22
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Tieri EE, Saletti MA, D'Angelo AR, Parisciani G, Pelini S, Cocco A, Di Teodoro G, Di Censo E, D'Alterio N, Latrofa MS, Otranto D, Pascucci I. Angiostrongylus vasorum in foxes ( Vulpes vulpes) and wolves ( Canis lupus italicus) from Abruzzo region, Italy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2021; 15:184-194. [PMID: 34136344 PMCID: PMC8182381 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In Europe wildlife animals such as the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) are considered the main reservoir for Angiostrongylus vasorum as well as a potential threat for domestic dog infection. Though this parasite is endemic in fox populations, data on A. vasorum infection in wolves (Canis lupus italicus) are still scant, having only recently been described in Northwestern Spain, in Italy, in Croatia and in Slovakia. Based on the rising number of cases of canine lungworm infection in Central Italy (Abruzzo region), the aim of the present study was to investigate the infection by A. vasorum in fox and wolf populations sharing the same geographical area of dogs. From October 2008 to November 2019, A. vasorum specimens were collected, through routine post-mortem examination, from 56 carcasses (44 foxes and 12 wolves). Adult parasites were searched for in the right side of the heart and in pulmonary artery of all carcasses. First stage of larvae (L1) was searched in faeces using the Baermann technique and in lungs by tissue impressions. Overall, 230 adult specimens were collected and identified on a morphological basis. To confirm the morphological identification, 4 adult specimens (n = 3 from fox, n = 1 from wolf) were molecularly identified as A. vasorum by amplification of partial fragment of nuclear 18S rRNA (~1700 bp) genes. The anatomo-pathological and parasitological examinations indicated the presence of A. vasorum in 33 foxes (75%) and in 8 wolves (66.7%). The level of prevalence of infested wolves was higher than the previous one reported in other European countries. Interestingly, the prevalence of infection in foxes herein recorded was higher than that described in dogs (8.9%) living in the same geographical area. This result may confirm the hypothesis that the spread of canine angiostrongylosis is linked to fox populations infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elga Ersilia Tieri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale” (IZSAM), Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
- Corresponding author.
| | - Maria Antonietta Saletti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale” (IZSAM), Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Anna Rita D'Angelo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale” (IZSAM), Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Gabriella Parisciani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale” (IZSAM), Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Sandro Pelini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale” (IZSAM), Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Antonio Cocco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale” (IZSAM), Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Di Teodoro
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale” (IZSAM), Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Erica Di Censo
- Azienda Sanitaria Locale di Pescara, via Renato Paolini 47, 65124, Pescara, Italy
| | - Nicola D'Alterio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale” (IZSAM), Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Maria Stefania Latrofa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Strada Provinciale per Casamassina Km 3, 70010, Valenzano, BA), Italy
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Strada Provinciale per Casamassina Km 3, 70010, Valenzano, BA), Italy
- Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, District 2, Hamedan, Iran
| | - Ilaria Pascucci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale” (IZSAM), Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
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23
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Grob D, Conejeros I, López-Osorio S, Velásquez ZD, Segeritz L, Gärtner U, Schaper R, Hermosilla C, Taubert A. Canine Angiostrongylus vasorum-Induced Early Innate Immune Reactions Based on NETs Formation and Canine Vascular Endothelial Cell Activation In Vitro. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10050427. [PMID: 34065858 PMCID: PMC8151090 DOI: 10.3390/biology10050427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Angiostrongylus vasorum is a cardiopulmonary nematode that affects canids, residing in the pulmonary artery and right atrium/ventricle. Due to its location, the parasite will have a close interaction with the different components of the innate immune system, including endothelial cells and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN). Here we evaluated the expression of adhesion molecules of canine aortic endothelial cells (CAEC), and NETs formation by co-culture of freshly isolated canine PMN with A. vasorum L3. Overall, we found distinct inter-donor variations in adhesion molecule expression among CAEC isolates. Additionally, PMN and A. vasorum co-culture induced NETs release without affecting larval viability. Abstract Due to its localization in the canine blood stream, Angiostrongylus vasorum is exposed to circulating polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and the endothelial cells of vessels. NETs release of canine PMN exposed to A. vasorum infective stages (third stage larvae, L3) and early pro-inflammatory immune reactions of primary canine aortic endothelial cells (CAEC) stimulated with A. vasorum L3-derived soluble antigens (AvAg) were analyzed. Expression profiles of the pro-inflammatory adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1, P-selectin and E-selectin were analyzed in AvAg-stimulated CAEC. Immunofluorescence analyses demonstrated that motile A. vasorum L3 triggered different NETs phenotypes, with spread NETs (sprNETs) as the most abundant. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that the co-culture of canine PMN with A. vasorum L3 resulted in significant larval entanglement. Distinct inter-donor variations of P-selectin, E-selectin, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 gene transcription and protein expression were observed in CAEC isolates which might contribute to the high individual variability of pathological findings in severe canine angiostrongylosis. Even though canine NETs did not result in larval killing, the entanglement of L3 might facilitate further leukocyte attraction to their surface. Since NETs have already been documented as involved in both thrombosis and endothelium damage events, we speculate that A. vasorum-triggered NETs might play a critical role in disease outcome in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Grob
- Institute for Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (I.C.); (S.L.-O.); (Z.D.V.); (L.S.); (C.H.); (A.T.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Iván Conejeros
- Institute for Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (I.C.); (S.L.-O.); (Z.D.V.); (L.S.); (C.H.); (A.T.)
| | - Sara López-Osorio
- Institute for Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (I.C.); (S.L.-O.); (Z.D.V.); (L.S.); (C.H.); (A.T.)
- Grupo de Investigación CIBAV, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Medellín 050034, Colombia
| | - Zahady D. Velásquez
- Institute for Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (I.C.); (S.L.-O.); (Z.D.V.); (L.S.); (C.H.); (A.T.)
| | - Lisa Segeritz
- Institute for Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (I.C.); (S.L.-O.); (Z.D.V.); (L.S.); (C.H.); (A.T.)
| | - Ulrich Gärtner
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
| | | | - Carlos Hermosilla
- Institute for Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (I.C.); (S.L.-O.); (Z.D.V.); (L.S.); (C.H.); (A.T.)
| | - Anja Taubert
- Institute for Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (I.C.); (S.L.-O.); (Z.D.V.); (L.S.); (C.H.); (A.T.)
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24
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Kotwa JD, Schnyder M, Jardine CM, Deplazes P, Pearl DL, Berke O, Mercer N, Peregrine AS. Investigation of the occurrence of Angiostrongylus vasorum in coyotes in southern Ontario, Canada. J Vet Diagn Invest 2021; 33:664-669. [PMID: 33890522 PMCID: PMC8225693 DOI: 10.1177/10406387211011990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In North America, the only endemic focus for Angiostrongylus
vasorum (French heartworm) was historically thought to occur in the
southeastern part of the island of Newfoundland. However, reports of A.
vasorum infection in wild canids in West Virginia, USA, and Nova
Scotia, Canada, suggest the introduction of the parasite to mainland North
America. We screened for A. vasorum in coyotes from across
southern Ontario. Additionally, we evaluated the performance of ELISAs for
detection of circulating A. vasorum antigen (Ag-ELISA) and
antibodies against A. vasorum (Ab-ELISA) designed for use in
sera or blood of foxes for use with coyotes in this region. Autopsies were
performed on 397 coyotes, and lung tissue extract prepared from each carcass was
tested via both ELISAs. The sensitivity and specificity for both tests were
estimated in the absence of a gold standard using a 2-test single population
Bayesian model; sensitivity and specificity priors were based on the performance
of the assays in foxes in Switzerland. Eight coyotes tested positive for
A. vasorum antigen; no animal was antibody positive. The
estimated sensitivity and specificity of the Ag-ELISA were 90.8% (95% credible
interval [CrI]: 83.8–95.6%) and 95.5% (95% CrI: 93.4–97.2%), respectively. For
the Ab-ELISA, the estimated sensitivity and specificity were 41.9% (95% CrI:
32.1–51.9%) and 98.0% (95% CrI: 96.3–99.0%), respectively. Based on these
findings and negative postmortem data for the same animals, there is
insufficient evidence to suggest the presence of A. vasorum in
southern Ontario coyotes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Manuela Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Claire M Jardine
- Departments of Pathobiology, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.,Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter Deplazes
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - David L Pearl
- Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Olaf Berke
- Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicola Mercer
- Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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25
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Wun MK, Davies S, Spielman D, Lee R, Hayward D, Malik R. Gross, microscopic, radiologic, echocardiographic and haematological findings in rats experimentally infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Parasitology 2021; 148:159-166. [PMID: 32741388 PMCID: PMC11010191 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182020001420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Although the gross and microscopic pathology in rats infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis has been well described, corresponding changes detected using diagnostic imaging modalities have not been reported. This work describes the cardiopulmonary changes in mature Wistar rats chronically infected with moderate burdens of A. cantonensis using radiology, computed tomography (CT), CT angiography, echocardiography, necropsy and histological examinations. Haematology and coagulation studies were also performed. Thoracic radiography, CT and CT angiography showed moderately severe alveolar pulmonary patterns mainly affecting caudal portions of the caudal lung lobes and associated dilatation of the caudal lobar pulmonary arteries. Presumptive worm profiles could be detected using echocardiography, with worms seen in the right ventricular outflow tract or straddling either the pulmonary and/or the tricuspid valves. Extensive, multifocal, coalescing dark areas and multiple pale foci affecting the caudal lung lobes were observed at necropsy. Histologically, these were composed of numerous large, confluent granulomas and fibrotic nodules. Adult worms were found predominantly in the mid- to distal pulmonary arteries. An inflammatory leukogram, hyperproteinaemia and hyperfibrinogenaemia were found in most rats. These findings provide a comparative model for A. cantonensis in its accidental hosts, such as humans and dogs. In addition, the pathological and imaging changes are comparable to those seen in dogs infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum, suggesting rats infected with A. cantonensis could be a model for dogs with A. vasorum infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew K. Wun
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW2006, Australia
| | - Sarah Davies
- Veterinary Imaging Associates, 52–56 Atchison St, St Leonards, NSW2065, Australia
| | - Derek Spielman
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW2006, Australia
| | - Rogan Lee
- Centre for Infectious Diseases & Microbiology Laboratory Services, ICPMR, Westmead Hospital, NSW2145, Australia
| | - Doug Hayward
- Vetnostics, 60 Waterloo Road, Macquarie Park, NSW2113, Australia
| | - Richard Malik
- Centre for Veterinary Education, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW2006, Australia
- School of Veterinary and Animal Science, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW2678, Australia
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26
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Paradies P, Sasanelli M, Capogna A, Mercadante A, Rubino GTR, Bussadori CM. Is Pulmonary Hypertension a Rare Condition Associated to Angiostrongylosis in Naturally Infected Dogs? Top Companion Anim Med 2021; 43:100513. [PMID: 33484890 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcam.2021.100513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Canine angiostrongylosis due to Angiostrongylus vasorum is one of the cardiopulmonary parasitic diseases in dogs and it can manifest with very different clinical pictures, which often make diagnosis very difficult. Based on the nature of the vascular and parenchymal lesions induced by the infection (thrombo-arteritis and fibrosis), it is not surprising that cases of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated with angiostrongylosis have been reported in the literature, although it seems to represent a rare condition. The aim of the present work is to describe the clinical and instrumental aspects referred to cases of canine angiostrongylosis before and after treatment then to evaluate even mild conditions of PAH using echocardiography. PAH was not only conventionally investigated based on characteristic cardiac changes that occur secondary to PAH and by estimating pulmonary pressure from spectral Doppler tracings, but also by using a combination of further selected echocardiographic parameters (AT/ET, PA/Ao, Pulmonary flow profile pattern) able also to reveal PAH in the absence of tricuspid or pulmonary regurgitation. Clinical and instrumental aspects of 17 cases of angiostrongylosis, divided into respiratory cases (n = 6), nonrespiratory (n = 5), and asymptomatic (n = 6), are here described. Radiographic alterations were recorded in 90% of patients despite the reason for clinical presentation. A state of mild to severe PAH was diagnosed in 58.8% of cases. Although the return to a normal clinical condition was achieved 2 months after treatment in almost all patients, radiographic and echocardiographic alterations were persistent for longer. The cases presented reinforce the evidence on the complexity of the clinical picture of angiostrongylosis. PAH associated with canine angiostrongylosis could be a more common condition than previously reported in naturally infected dogs. In some cases, echocardiographic findings suggestive of PAH could be the starting point to address the clinical diagnosis toward angiostrongylosis. PAH may be responsible for worsening of the clinical picture of patients; thus, a careful evaluation is suggested before and after anthelmintic treatment in order to optimize the therapeutic management of each case.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Paradies
- Clinical Section, Department of Emergency and Organs Transplantation, Campus of Veterinary Medicine, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, Italy.
| | - Mariateresa Sasanelli
- Clinical Section, Department of Emergency and Organs Transplantation, Campus of Veterinary Medicine, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Capogna
- Clinical Section, Department of Emergency and Organs Transplantation, Campus of Veterinary Medicine, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, Italy
| | - Angelica Mercadante
- Clinical Section, Department of Emergency and Organs Transplantation, Campus of Veterinary Medicine, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Tommaso Roberto Rubino
- Clinical Section, Department of Emergency and Organs Transplantation, Campus of Veterinary Medicine, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, Italy
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27
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Tritten L, Gillis-Germitsch N, Kockmann T, Schnyder M. Quantitative proteomics analysis of Angiostrongylus vasorum-induced alterations in dog serum sheds light on the pathogenesis of canine angiostrongylosis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:283. [PMID: 33431914 PMCID: PMC7801463 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79459-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood contains hundreds of proteins, reflecting ongoing cellular processes and immune reactions. Infections with the blood-dwelling cardiopulmonary nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum in dogs manifest with a broad spectrum of clinical signs including respiratory distress, bleeding diathesis and neurological signs, and are associated with a perturbed blood protein profile in dogs. However, current knowledge does not completely explain the observed pathologies induced by A. vasorum infections, including bleeding disorders. Using sera from experimentally infected dogs, dog serum proteome was analysed by quantitative mass spectrometry methods over several time points before and after inoculation. Following computational analysis, we identified 139 up- and downregulated proteins after infection (log2 ratio cut-off ≥ 1.0; q-value ≤ 0.05). Among upregulated proteins were chitinase 3-like 1 and pulmonary surfactant-associated protein B (log2 fold-changes ≥ 5). Pathway enrichment revealed the complement (especially the lectin pathway) and coagulation cascades as significantly affected upon analysis of downregulated proteins. Among them were mannan-binding lectin serine peptidases, ficolin, and coagulation factor XIII-B. These results bring new elements towards understanding the underlying pathomechanisms of bleeding diatheses observed in some A. vasorum-infected dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucienne Tritten
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Nina Gillis-Germitsch
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Kockmann
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, ETH/UZH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Manuela Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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28
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First report of fatal autochthonous angiostrongylosis in a dog in Greece. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2020; 23:100519. [PMID: 33678374 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Canine angiostrongylosis caused by Angiostrongylus vasorum is a life-threatening disease which is emerging in regions of Europe. Thus, there is the merit for a continuous epidemiological surveillance in dog populations. This is the first description of a clinical autochthonous case of canine angiostrongylosis in Greece. A 7-month-old, male, mixed-breed dog was presented with progressively worsening anorexia, respiratory distress, coughing, bleeding diathesis and succumbed four days post admission. Gross post mortem examination revealed numerous nodular fistulated lesions in the lungs, and pulmonary cytology and histopathology showed a verminous pyogranulomatous pneumonia. The definitive diagnosis was based on the morphological identification of first stage larvae (L1) retrieved in the feces by the Baermann method, the detection of the circulating antigen by an in-clinic test and the molecular identification of L1. This report underlines the epidemiological and clinical implications, as well as the infection risks when the index of clinical suspicion is low and the disease is unexpected in a country.
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Tayyrov A, Schnetzler M, Gillis-Germitsch N, Schnyder M. Genetic diversity of the cardiopulmonary canid nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum within and between rural and urban fox populations. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2020; 87:104618. [PMID: 33188914 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Angiostrongylus vasorum is an emerging parasitic cardiopulmonary nematode of dogs, foxes, and other canids. In dogs, the infection causes respiratory and bleeding disorders along with other clinical signs collectively known as canine angiostrongylosis, while foxes represent an important wildlife reservoir. Despite the spread of A. vasorum across various countries in Europe and the Americas, little is known about the genetic diversity of A. vasorum populations at a local level in a highly endemic area. Thus, in the present study, we investigated the genetic diversity of 323 adult A. vasorum nematodes from 64 foxes living in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland. Among those, 279 worms isolated from 20 foxes were analyzed separately to investigate the genetic diversity of multiple worms within individual foxes. Part of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene was amplified and sequenced. Overall, 16 mitochondrial haplotypes were identified. The analysis of multiple worms per host revealed 12 haplotypes, with up to 5 different haplotypes in single individuals. Higher haplotype diversity (n = 10) of nematodes from foxes of urban areas than in rural areas (n = 7) was observed, with 5 shared haplotypes. Comparing our data with published GenBank sequences, five haplotypes were found to be unique within the Zurich nematode population. Interestingly, A. vasorum nematodes obtained from foxes in London and Zurich shared the same dominating haplotype. Further studies are needed to clarify if this haplotype has a different pathogenicity that may contribute to its dominance. Our findings show the importance of foxes as a reservoir for genetic parasite recombination and indicate that high fox population densities in urban areas with small and overlapping home ranges allow multiple infection events that lead to high genetic variability of A. vasorum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annageldi Tayyrov
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michèle Schnetzler
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nina Gillis-Germitsch
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Manuela Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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Becskei C, Willesen JL, Schnyder M, Wozniakiewicz M, Miroshnikova N, Mahabir SP. Field safety and efficacy of an orally administered combination of sarolaner, moxidectin and pyrantel (Simparica Trio ®) for the prevention of angiostrongylosis in dogs presented as veterinary patients. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:385. [PMID: 32727548 PMCID: PMC7391663 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04262-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Infection with the cardiopulmonary nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum may cause severe disease in dogs, therefore prophylactic treatments are necessary to prevent infection in dogs at risk. A clinical field study was conducted to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of an oral combination of sarolaner, moxidectin and pyrantel (Simparica Trio®) for the prevention of A. vasorum infection in dogs (prevention study). A survey study was conducted concurrently to determine the infection pressure in the same areas. Methods Prevention and survey studies were both conducted at the same veterinary clinics in endemic hot spots for A. vasorum in Denmark and Italy. The prevention study was a randomized, placebo controlled, double masked study where 622 client-owned dogs were treated and tested at 30 days intervals for 10 months. In the survey study 1628 dogs that were at risk of infection and/or were suspected to be infected were tested by fecal and/or serological methods, and the percent of dogs positive for A. vasorum was calculated. Results In the prevention study, there were no adverse events related to treatment with Simparica Trio®. Two placebo-treated animals became infected with A. vasorum during the 10-month study period, while none of the dogs in the combination product-treated group became infected. In the survey study, 12.2% of the study dogs were found positive to A. vasorum, indicating high exposure to the parasite during the period of the prevention study. Conclusions Monthly oral treatment with the combination of sarolaner, moxidectin and pyrantel (Simparica Trio®) was 100% effective in the prevention of natural infection with A. vasorum in dogs in highly endemic areas. In endemic areas, A. vasorum occurrence in dogs at risk is considerable.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Csilla Becskei
- Zoetis, Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, Mercuriusstraat 20, Zaventem, B-1930, Belgium.
| | - Jakob L Willesen
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 16 Dyrlægevej, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Manuela Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266A, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Magda Wozniakiewicz
- Zoetis, Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, Mercuriusstraat 20, Zaventem, B-1930, Belgium
| | - Nataliya Miroshnikova
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266A, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sean P Mahabir
- Zoetis Inc, Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, 333 Portage Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA
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Conquering Switzerland: the emergence of Angiostrongylus vasorum in foxes over three decades and its rapid regional increase in prevalence contrast with the stable occurrence of lungworms. Parasitology 2020; 147:1071-1079. [PMID: 32372743 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182020000700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Angiostrongylus vasorum, Crenosoma vulpis and Capillaria aerophila are the most common lungworms of domestic and wild canids. We investigated the short- and long-term lungworm prevalence changes in the Swiss fox population with a focus on A. vasorum. Between 2012 and 2017, lungs and hearts of 533 foxes from north-eastern Switzerland were necropsied and blood samples tested for circulating A. vasorum antigen. Angiostrongylus vasorum prevalence increased steadily from 21.5% in 2012 to 81.8% in 2017. In contrast, C. aerophila and C. vulpis prevalences fluctuated between 41.8 and 74.7%, and 3.6 and 14.9%, respectively. Based on 3955 blood samples collected between 1986 and 2017 from three geographic areas and during four time periods, antigen seropositivity increased from 2.4 to 62.0%. In north-eastern Switzerland, seropositivity was initially low (1.9 and 1.7% in the first two time periods) but increased in the following two decades to 22.2 and 62.0%, respectively. Our findings depict the spectacular expansion of A. vasorum in the past three decades. Regionally, the prevalence in foxes increased 4-fold within 6 years in some regions. This underpins the important role of foxes as reservoir hosts, likely explaining the increasing number of cases of canine angiostrongylosis in Switzerland. Our findings are representative of central Europe and may help anticipating future developments in areas where A. vasorum is present but (still) infrequent.
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Becskei C, Thys M, Doherty P, Mahabir SP. Efficacy of orally administered combination of moxidectin, sarolaner and pyrantel (Simparica Trio™) for the prevention of experimental Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in dogs. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:64. [PMID: 32113483 PMCID: PMC7049383 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-3948-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infection with Angiostrongylus vasorum may cause severe clinical disease, even death in dogs, however, due to the often non-specific clinical signs, diagnosis is not always straightforward. Regular prophylactic treatment may offer a safe means to protect dogs against infection. The efficacy of a novel oral endectocide containing moxidectin, sarolaner and pyrantel was investigated for the prevention of angiostrongylosis in dogs in three placebo-controlled, randomized, masked studies. The initial study (Study 1) determined the efficacious dosage of moxidectin in the combination product by evaluating three different dose levels, and two follow-up studies (Studies 2 and 3) confirmed the efficacy of the selected moxidectin dose. METHODS Animals were infected orally with 200 infective third-stage larvae (L3) of A. vasorum and were treated 28 days later with the combination product or with placebo. Timing of dosing relative to infection allowed for efficacy to be evaluated against the immature adult (L5) stage. Dogs in Study 1 received treatments with oral tablets to deliver 3, 12 or 24 µg/kg moxidectin in combination with 2 mg/kg sarolaner and 5.0 mg/kg pyrantel (as pamoate salt) or placebo. In Studies 2 and 3, Simparica Trio™ tablets were administered to provide minimum dosages of 1.2 mg/kg sarolaner, 24 µg/kg moxidectin and 5.0 mg/kg pyrantel (as pamoate salt). Efficacy of the combination product was calculated as the percent reduction in adult worm counts at necropsy relative to placebo. RESULTS In Study 1, the 3, 12 and 24 µg/kg moxidectin dosage in the combination product provided 7.2%, 54.5% and 94.7% efficacy against the immature adult stages of A. vasorum, respectively. Studies 2 and 3 confirmed that the efficacy of 24 µg/kg moxidectin combined with 1.2 mg/kg sarolaner and 5 mg/kg pyrantel in Simparica Trio™ was ≥ 92.9%. All three studies established that a single oral administration of 24 µg/kg moxidectin in the combination product provided effective prophylactic treatment for angiostrongylosis, reduced L1 production and fecal excretion and minimized the tissue damage to the lungs. CONCLUSIONS A single oral treatment of dogs with Simparica Trio™ providing moxidectin at a minimum dose of 24 µg/kg was efficacious in the prevention of angiostrongylosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Csilla Becskei
- Zoetis, Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, Mercuriusstraat 20, 1930, Zaventem, Belgium.
| | - Mirjan Thys
- Zoetis, Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, Mercuriusstraat 20, 1930, Zaventem, Belgium
| | - Padraig Doherty
- Charles River Laboratories, Pre-Clinical Services, Glenamoy, Mayo, Ireland
| | - Sean P Mahabir
- Zoetis Inc., Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, 333 Portage Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA
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Angelou A, Gelasakis AI, Schnyder M, Schaper R, Papadopoulos E. The 'French heartworm' in Greece: A countrywide serological survey of Angiostrongylus vasorum infection by combined detection of circulating antigens and specific antibodies. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2020; 19:100376. [PMID: 32057383 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Angiostrongylus vasorum is a nematode of the superfamily Metastongyloidea and was first described in the south of France in the nineteenth century where its biology was extensively studied in the 1960ies, leading to the common use of the byname "the French heartworm". The life cycle of the parasite is indirect including slugs and snails as intermediate hosts, while the adults live in the right heart and pulmonary arteries. Since then, many studies have been conducted in different European countries. However, there is scant knowledge regarding the prevalence and distribution of this parasite in Greece. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate the current seroprevalence of A. vasorum in dogs in Greece. Overall 1000 apparently healthy and randomly selected dogs, presented in veterinary clinics, were involved at national level (n = 66 locations). Individual serum samples were obtained and tested using two in-house ELISAs by combining the detection of specific antibodies against the parasite and of circulating antigens of A. vasorum. Overall, 3.0% (n = 30, CI 95% 2.1 to 4.3%) of the sampled dogs were seropositive to at least one of the two ELISAs: 0.4% (n = 4, CI 95% 0.2 to 1.0%) were positive by both ELISAs, while 1.0% (n = 10, CI 95% 0.5 to 1.8%) were seropositive only for specific antibodies and 1.6% (n = 16, CI 95% 1.0 to 2.6%) were antigen-positive only. This is the first multicentric seroepidemiological study about A. vasorum in dogs from Greece. We showed that this parasite circulates in the local canine population and further studies should be carried out to elucidate its significance in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Angelou
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, PO Box: 393, GR 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Athanasios I Gelasakis
- Laboratory of Farm Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, School of Agricultural Production, Infrastructure and Environment, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855, Greece
| | - Manuela Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Elias Papadopoulos
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, PO Box: 393, GR 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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Rare Case of Angiostrongylus Vasorum Intraocular Infestation in an Asymptomatic Dog. Helminthologia 2019; 56:319-322. [PMID: 31708672 PMCID: PMC6818636 DOI: 10.2478/helm-2019-0025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The presented clinical observation shows an atypical case of Angiostrongylus vasorum intraocular infection in an 18-month-old male beagle from north-eastern Slovakia. The dog presented with a motile worm in the anterior chamber of the right eye. No ocular signs or symptoms of a systemic disease were observed. The faecal examination using Baermann´s technique and fl otation was negative. Diagnosis was established following surgical removal of the worm. The specimen was determined as an A. vasorum female based on morphological features and confirmed by means of PCR technique and sequencing. To the best of our knowledge, the presented manifestation is the first ocular case of angiostrongylosis with absence of typical symptoms or signs of the disease.
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Birkbeck R, Humm K, Cortellini S. A review of hyperfibrinolysis in cats and dogs. J Small Anim Pract 2019; 60:641-655. [PMID: 31608455 DOI: 10.1111/jsap.13068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The fibrinolytic system is activated concurrently with coagulation; it regulates haemostasis and prevents thrombosis by restricting clot formation to the area of vascular injury and dismantling the clot as healing occurs. Dysregulation of the fibrinolytic system, which results in hyperfibrinolysis, may manifest as clinically important haemorrhage. Hyperfibrinolysis occurs in cats and dogs secondary to a variety of congenital and acquired disorders. Acquired disorders associated with hyperfibrinolysis, such as trauma, cavitary effusions, liver disease and Angiostrongylus vasorum infection, are commonly encountered in primary care practice. In addition, delayed haemorrhage reported in greyhounds following trauma and routine surgical procedures has been attributed to a hyperfibrinolytic disorder, although this has yet to be characterised. The diagnosis of hyperfibrinolysis is challenging and, until recently, has relied on techniques that are not readily available outside referral hospitals. With the recent development of point-of-care viscoelastic techniques, assessment of fibrinolysis is now possible in referral practice. This will provide the opportunity to target haemorrhage due to hyperfibrinolysis with antifibrinolytic drugs and thereby reduce associated morbidity and mortality. The fibrinolytic system and the conditions associated with increased fibrinolytic activity in cats and dogs are the focus of this review article. In addition, laboratory and point-of-care techniques for assessing hyperfibrinolysis and antifibrinolytic treatment for patients with haemorrhage are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Birkbeck
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, UK
| | - K Humm
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, UK
| | - S Cortellini
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, UK
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Langhorn R, Bochsen L, Willesen JL, Sørensen TM, Kristensen AT. Thromboelastography-guided transfusion in dogs with hypocoagulable disorders: a case series. Acta Vet Scand 2019; 61:35. [PMID: 31331398 PMCID: PMC6647138 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-019-0469-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thromboelastography (TEG) is a global whole blood hemostasis assay which includes plasma as well as cellular components of hemostasis in the analysis and follows the quality and dynamics of clot development, stabilization, and lysis. In human medicine TEG is also a valuable asset in the therapeutic setting, allowing evaluation of the effect of transfusion therapy in vitro. This case series describes the use of TEG as a guiding tool for transfusion therapy in four dogs with hypocoagulable hemostatic disorders. CASE PRESENTATION Four dogs presented with hypocoagulable disorders of hemostasis, diagnosed as rodenticide intoxication, angiostrongylosis, disseminated intravascular coagulation following severe systemic inflammation, and immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, respectively. TEG was used as a diagnostic tool as well as a guiding tool in the decision of whether or not, and in what dose, fresh frozen plasma would be of benefit in the treatment protocol for each dog. CONCLUSIONS TEG may be applied in the therapeutic setting as a means to tailor individual patient transfusion therapy in critically ill dogs with hypocoagulable states.
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Gavrilović P, Marinković D, Vidanović D, Dobrosavljević I, Gavrilović A. Are golden jackals (Canis aureus) definitive hosts for Angiostrongylus vasorum? Transbound Emerg Dis 2019; 66:2305-2310. [PMID: 31254445 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Angiostrongylosis caused by Angiostrongylus vasorum is an emerging disease in Europe. Recent reports have shown that, besides the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) recognized as the main definitive host and reservoir for the parasite, the role of the definitive host can be taken by a range of mammals. We considered that, due to the rapid large-scale expansion of its populations in Europe, the golden jackal (Canis aureus) could assume an important role in the epidemiology of the disease. The aim of the investigations was to explore the role of the golden jackal as the definitive host for A. vasorum. Sixty-three golden jackals, legally hunted in lowlands around the Danube River in Serbia recognized as the core area of the species' distribution in Europe, were subjected to patho-morphological and parasitological examination. The adult forms of A. vasorum were detected in the pulmonary arteries in six golden jackals with gross lesions manifested in the lungs. The finding of first stage larvae (L1) of A. vasorum in microscopic smears of the lung tissue altered by infection, which was consistent with the presence of adult parasites and manifestation of gross lesions in the lungs, confirms the successful reproduction of the parasite in the golden jackal. Migration of L1 from the blood vessels to the airways was confirmed by histopathology and, subsequently, their shedding was demonstrated by the Baermann method. The results support the hypothesis that the golden jackal acts as a suitable definitive host for A. vasorum. As a definitive host with a large-scale expansion of its populations in Europe, the golden jackal may be an important part of the parasite's host repertoire by spreading the parasite into previously non-endemic areas and by being an additional definitive host in endemic areas of vulpine angiostrongylosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavle Gavrilović
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Veterinary Specialized Institute 'Pančevo', Pančevo, Serbia
| | - Darko Marinković
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dejan Vidanović
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Veterinary Specialized Institute 'Kraljevo', Kraljevo, Serbia
| | - Ivan Dobrosavljević
- Department of Pathology, Veterinary Specialized Institute 'Požarevac', Požarevac, Serbia
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A grid-cell based fecal sampling scheme reveals: land-use and altitude affect prevalence rates of Angiostrongylus vasorum and other parasites of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Parasitol Res 2019; 118:2235-2245. [PMID: 31079253 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06325-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
In view of the role of foxes as a reservoir for Angiostrongylus vasorum, a nematode of the heart and lungs of dogs and foxes, its occurrence across Switzerland was investigated in foxes applying a standardized sampling scheme for fox fecal samples. In 72 study areas, which consisted of three 1-km2 grid cells, a total of 1481 samples were collected by walking transects following linear features in the terrain, and analyzed by a flotation-sieving method. The overall prevalence rate of A. vasorum in fecal samples was 8.8% (95% confidence interval, CI 7.4-10.3%), being significantly higher in the Swiss Plateau (11.4%, CI. 9.4-13.8%) compared with other bioregions, and more prevalent in areas with less than 50% of cultivated land (p = 0.043). Prevalence rates increased with decreasing altitudes being significantly higher below 400 m above sea level (20.6%, 95% CI 15.2-26.9%), while all samples collected above 900 m asl were negative. Eggs of Toxocara sp. (12.1%), Taeniidae (10.5%), Capillaria spp. (8.3%), Trichuris vulpis (5.5%), hookworms (5.3%), Toxascaris leonina (1.3%) and Strongyloides sp. (0.4%) were furthermore identified. Taeniid eggs were positively and Capillaria spp. negatively associated with the amount of cultivated land. The prevalence rates based on our fecal analyses were generally lower compared with previous studies from Switzerland which were based on fox necropsies. However, the grid cell-based sampling scheme with replicable transects for fox feces collection proved to be a suitable, non-invasive method for parasitic large-scale surveys providing information on the relative infectious pressure for the local dog population.
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Ciuca L, Meomartino L, Piantedosi D, Cortese L, Cringoli G, Rinaldi L, Lamagna B. Irreversible Ocular Lesions in a Dog With Angiostrongylus Vasorum Infection. Top Companion Anim Med 2019; 36:4-8. [PMID: 31472726 DOI: 10.1053/j.tcam.2019.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
This report describes a 10-month-old dog with a sudden loss of vision and severe dyspnoea. The ocular examination revealed bilateral panuveitis, lens subluxation, secondary glaucoma, and retinal detachment. In addition, the ocular ultrasound showed in the vitreous body of the right eye, a small doubled-lined foreign body compatible with an intraocular parasite. Radiographs of the thorax revealed an increased opacity with mixed lung pattern (alveolar and bronchial) and thoracic ultrasonography showed several subpleural nodules. The presence of Angiostrongylus vasorum first stage larvae was confirmed with 324 larvae per gram of feces and an antigen test for the parasite (AngioDetect, IDEXX) also yielded a positive result. The severe and irreversible ocular lesions described in this case enhanced the complexity of the clinical picture of canine angiostrongylosis. Infection with the parasite should be included in the list of differential diagnoses for ocular uveitis to avoid potentially serious complications related to a missed or delayed diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavinia Ciuca
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Leonardo Meomartino
- Interdepartmental Centre of Veterinary Radiology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Diego Piantedosi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Laura Cortese
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cringoli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Laura Rinaldi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Barbara Lamagna
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
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Hicklenton L, Betson M. Molecular detection of Angiostrongylus vasorum in gastropods in Surrey, UK. Parasitol Res 2019; 118:1051-1054. [PMID: 30685782 PMCID: PMC6514071 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-6191-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Surrey, a county in southern England, is a hot spot for angiostrongylosis in domestic dogs but there have been no investigations into the intermediate hosts of Angiostrongylus vasorum in this area. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of A. vasorum in gastropods in Guildford, the most populous town in Surrey, and to ascertain which gastropod species can act as intermediate hosts for A. vasorum. Gastropods (n = 97) were sampled in six locations, representing urban, suburban and rural environments, and identified to species based on morphological features. A PCR assay was used to detect A. vasorum DNA in gastropod tissue and the species of infected specimens was confirmed by sequencing of mitochondrial genes. 4.1% (4/97) of sampled gastropods and 9.1% (4/44) of sampled slugs were A. vasorum positive. Infected gastropod species were Arion rufus (n = 3) and Deroceras invadens (n = 1), the first description of the latter species as a potential intermediate host for A. vasorum. Two infected slugs were sampled in urban environments and two in suburban environments. The results demonstrate that there is a risk of transmission of A. vasorum to domestic dogs from the gastropod population in urban and suburban areas of Guildford.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Hicklenton
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7AL, UK
| | - M Betson
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7AL, UK.
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Shuttleworth A, Dunning M, Wright I, Elsheikha HM. Survey-based pilot study into the chosen therapy and prophylaxis used by UK primary care veterinary surgeons against canine angiostrongylosis. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2018; 14:144-149. [PMID: 31014720 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Canine Angiostrongylosis (CA), a gastropod-borne parasitic infection caused by the metastrongyloid nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum, is an important cause of significant morbidity to domestic dogs across the UK as well as in other European countries. This study aimed to ascertain the frequency at which particular drugs were used by primary care practitioners in the UK for therapy against and prophylaxis for CA. Primary care veterinary clinicians were surveyed using an online questionnaire and face-to-face or telephone interviews. Eighty-six veterinary surgeons responded. The majority of practices (n = 52) included lungworm in their standard anthelmintic protocols; moxidectin was the most common drug used for prophylaxis (n = 71). Fenbendazole was the most frequently selected drug, by 45% of vets, for treatment of confirmed cases of CA despite it being unlicensed for this purpose in the UK and the absence of a clear treatment protocol. The results of this pilot study provide an initial insight into the approach taken by primary care practitioners in their approach to CA. This provides an important starting point for future studies investigating the decision-making for CA amongst UK veterinary surgeons, particularly to clarify whether in a larger cohort an unlicensed drug remains the treatment of choice. The absence of a clear protocol for fenbendazole means that treatment of dogs affected by CA may be suboptimal, increasing the risk of morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Shuttleworth
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Mark Dunning
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Ian Wright
- Mount Veterinary Practice, Fleetwood FY7 6QX, UK
| | - Hany M Elsheikha
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK.
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Canonne AM, Billen F, Losson B, Peters I, Schnyder M, Clercx C. Angiostrongylosis in dogs with negative fecal and in-clinic rapid serological tests: 7 Cases (2013-2017). J Vet Intern Med 2018; 32:951-955. [PMID: 29601653 PMCID: PMC5980360 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angiostrongylosis is considered as emerging disease in dogs in Belgium. Detection of first-stage larvae in feces using the Baermann method has an imperfect sensitivity. OBJECTIVES Investigation of efficacy of noninvasive blood and fecal diagnostic tests in comparison with PCR on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) material in a small series of coughing or dyspnoeic dogs naturally infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum. ANIMALS Seven dogs with angiostrongylosis. METHODS Retrospective study. Dogs with cough, exercise intolerance and dyspnea of 2- to 8-week duration. Diagnostic methods used included Baermann analysis, AngioDetect rapid assay, ELISAs for detection of circulating antigen and specific antibodies and qPCR on BAL material. RESULTS Baermann analysis, AngioDetect rapid assay, antigen ELISA, antibody ELISA, and qPCR on BAL material were positive in 3/7, 2/7, 3/6, 6/6, and 7/7 dogs, respectively. ELISA for antibodies or qPCR on BAL material were essential for definitive diagnosis in 3 dogs. Relative sensitivities of AngioDetect rapid assay, Baermann analysis, and ELISA for antigen detection were lower than 50% compared with ELISA for antibodies or qPCR on BAL material. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE In this small clinical series, Baermann analysis and AngioDetect rapid assay failed to confirm the diagnosis in some dogs. Therefore, ELISA for antibody detection and qPCR on BAL material should strongly be considered in clinically suspected dogs when antigen detection methods (AngioDetect or ELISA) and Baermann analysis are negative.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Morgane Canonne
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of LiègeBelgium
| | - F. Billen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of LiègeBelgium
| | - B. Losson
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic DiseasesUniversity of LiègeBelgium
| | - I. Peters
- TDDS Laboratories, University of Exeter, ExeterDevonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - M. Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse FacultyUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - C. Clercx
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of LiègeBelgium
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Cole L, Barfield D, Chan DL, Cortellini S. Use of a modified thromboelastography assay for the detection of hyperfibrinolysis in a dog infected with
Angiostrongylus vasorum. VETERINARY RECORD CASE REPORTS 2018. [DOI: 10.1136/vetreccr-2017-000554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Cole
- Department of Clinical Science and ServicesRoyal Veterinary CollegeLondonUK
| | - Dominic Barfield
- Department of Clinical Science and ServicesRoyal Veterinary CollegeLondonUK
| | - Daniel L Chan
- Department of Clinical Science and ServicesRoyal Veterinary CollegeLondonUK
| | - Stefano Cortellini
- Department of Clinical Science and ServicesRoyal Veterinary CollegeLondonUK
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Schug K, Krämer F, Schaper R, Hirzmann J, Failing K, Hermosilla C, Taubert A. Prevalence survey on lungworm (Angiostrongylus vasorum, Crenosoma vulpis, Eucoleus aerophilus) infections of wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in central Germany. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:85. [PMID: 29409523 PMCID: PMC5801722 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2672-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Angiostrongylus vasorum, Crenosoma vulpis and Eucoleus aerophilus are a source of increasing concern, potentially causing significant pulmonary and severe cardiac/systemic diseases in domestic dogs and wild canids, especially red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). To investigate the prevalence and geographical distribution of these parasites in central Germany, a total of 569 foxes were examined by dissection. Methods Pluck (heart and lung) and faecal samples of red foxes were collected from three regions of Germany. Lungs, hearts and adjacent vessels were processed for adult nematode detection. Parasitological diagnoses of faecal samples were performed by SAF technique, Giardia- and Cryptosporidium-Coproantigen-ELISAs and by a duplex copro-PCR for the detection of A. vasorum and C. vulpis DNA. Results Foxes originated from three Federal States of central Germany: Thuringia (n = 359); Rhineland-Palatinate (n = 121) and Hesse (n = 89). High prevalences for all three nematodes were detected, with E. aerophilus (69.4%; 395/569), followed by C. vulpis (32.3%; 184/569) and A. vasorum (14.1%; 80/569). In case of A. vasorum, prevalences varied significantly between Federal States, with the highest prevalence of 27.3% in Rhineland-Palatinate, followed by 19.1% and 8.4% in Hesse and Thuringia, respectively. The presence of A. vasorum in fox populations showed a rather patchy distribution, increasing from north-eastern to south-western regions. Analyses on C. vulpis revealed prevalences of 35.1%, 30.3% and 25.6% (Thuringia, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate, respectively). The most prevalent lungworm nematode was E. aerophilus, with a prevalence of 75.2%, 71.9% and 66.9% (Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse and Thuringia, respectively) and an almost area-wide equal distribution. Significant differences for single parasite prevalences within geographical regions of the Federal States could be detected whilst no correlation between age or gender and parasite occurrence was estimated. Weak seasonality for the winter months for A. vasorum, stronger correlation to spring and late summer for C. vulpis and no correlation to any season for E. aerophilus were detected. The method of dissection revealed a significantly higher sensitivity for C. vulpis when compared with the results of the duplex copro-PCR. Conclusions A sylvatic cycle was confirmed for all three lungworm nematodes in the examined area. The prevalences for all three lungworm nematodes are some of the highest recorded so far in German foxes. The data suggest that A. vasorum might be spreading from south-western to north-eastern parts of Germany. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-2672-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Schug
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Friederike Krämer
- Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Roland Schaper
- Bayer Animal Health GmbH, Global Marketing CAP, MON/6210, 51373, Leverkusen, Germany
| | - Jörg Hirzmann
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Klaus Failing
- Unit for Biomathematics and Data Processing, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Carlos Hermosilla
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Anja Taubert
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
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Alho AM, Meireles J, Schnyder M, Cardoso L, Belo S, Deplazes P, de Carvalho LM. Dirofilaria immitis and Angiostrongylus vasorum: The current situation of two major canine heartworms in Portugal. Vet Parasitol 2018; 252:120-126. [PMID: 29559132 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Cardiopulmonary nematodes are life-threatening pet parasites increasingly reported throughout Europe, with overlapping endemic areas. Dirofilaria immitis is a mosquito-borne whilst Angiostrongylus vasorum is a snail-borne pathogen. Both adult nematodes reside in the pulmonary arteries and right cardiac ventricle of domestic and wild canids, causing a wide spectrum of clinical presentations ranging from cough, dyspnoea and exercise intolerance to severe vascular and pulmonary disease with hearth failure that may lead to death. Information about the prevalence and distribution of cardiopulmonary parasites is essential for the control of animal diseases and, in the case of D. immitis, for the control of potentially associated illnesses in humans. However, in Portugal, heartworm studies are limited to few surveys and case reports, possibly underestimating the relevance of these nematodes. The present work reviews the data on cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis and angiostrongylosis in dogs in Portugal, providing a comprehensive update of the epidemiological situation during the past 20 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Margarida Alho
- CIISA, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - José Meireles
- CIISA, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Manuela Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Luís Cardoso
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Silvana Belo
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Peter Deplazes
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Luís Madeira de Carvalho
- CIISA, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
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Grandi G, Lind EO, Schaper R, Ågren E, Schnyder M. Canine angiostrongylosis in Sweden: a nationwide seroepidemiological survey by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and a summary of five-year diagnostic activity (2011-2015). Acta Vet Scand 2017; 59:85. [PMID: 29258532 PMCID: PMC5735942 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-017-0351-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background For the first time in Sweden, Angiostrongylus vasorum was detected on the island of Sydkoster in foxes and dogs in 2003. After sporadic detection of the parasite in foxes in southern Sweden, the first positive canine faecal sample on the mainland was found in 2011. Since then a total of 2882 faecal samples have been analysed with the Baermann test at the National Veterinary Institute (SVA) during the years 2011–2015; 20 of them being positive. Contemporaneously, of over 525 fox necropsies, only three were found to be infected. To gather a more accurate knowledge of A. vasorum occurrence in Sweden, a large scale seroepidemiological survey was performed and totally 3885 serum samples from dogs were tested for both the presence of circulating antigens and of specific antibodies to A. vasorum. Results In total, 0.10% (n = 4, 95% Confidence Intervals, CI 0.03–0.26%) of the dogs were positive for both antigen and antibodies, whereas 0.51% (n = 20, CI 0.31–0.79%) of the tested dogs were only antigen positive and 0.88% (n = 34, CI 0.61–1.22%) only positive for specific antibodies. Seropositive animals, as well as the majority of A. vasorum-positive faecal samples tested during the same period, were spread over central and southern Sweden. Annual prevalence of positive faecal dog samples and of necropsied A. vasorum positive foxes (coming from southern Sweden) varied from 0.3 to 0.9% (overall: 0.7%, CI 0.4–1.1%) and 0.0 to 1.4% (overall: 0.3%, CI 0.1–0.9%), respectively. Conclusions The findings confirmed that A. vasorum has become established in various geographical areas of central and southern Sweden. Veterinarians and dog owners should be aware of the potential risks of infection in large areas of the country, since canine angiostrongylosis may be a fatal disease if left untreated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hany Elsheikha
- Associate Professor of Veterinary Parasitology Diplomate EVPC, Specialist™ in Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
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De Liberato C, Grifoni G, Lorenzetti R, Meoli R, Cocumelli C, Mastromattei A, Scholl F, Rombolà P, Calderini P, Bruni G, Eleni C. Angiostrongylus vasorum in wolves in Italy: prevalence and pathological findings. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:386. [PMID: 28800774 PMCID: PMC5553711 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2307-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Angiostrongylus vasorum is a nematode residing in the heart and pulmonary vessels of dogs and wild carnivores. In Europe the red fox is its reservoir, while only three records from wolves have been published. Angiostrongylus vasorum has a worldwide distribution, and many pieces of evidence demonstrate that it is spreading from endemic areas to new ones. In Italy, A. vasorum was reported with increasing frequency in dogs and foxes in the last decades, and now it is considered endemic throughout the country. Angiostrongylus vasorum can be asymptomatic or cause respiratory and circulatory disorders, at times causing severe disseminated infections. Methods Between February 2012 and December 2016, 25 wolves found dead in central Italy were submitted to the Istituto Zooprofilattico del Lazio e della Toscana for post-mortem examination. Samples of lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, mediastinic lymph nodes and brain were collected from each animal for histological examination. When adult and larval nematodes were microscopically seen in lungs, the other organs were processed, and five histological sections for each organ were examined. To confirm parasite identification, lung samples were submitted to a PCR-sequencing protocol targeting the ITS2 region of A. vasorum. Results Seven wolves (28.0%) harboured nematode larvae in lung sections. In two of the positive wolves, adult nematodes were visible in pulmonary arteries, in four animals larvae were also detected in other organs. DNA sequencing reactions confirmed parasite identification as A. vasorum in all the cases. Conclusions As a result of the high prevalence of A. vasorum reported in wolves in the present study, a focus of high circulation could be hypothesised in central Italy. Nevertheless, the similarly high prevalence in foxes originating from the same areas were reported in previous papers. Histopathological evidence highlights the pathogenic potential of A. vasorum in the wolf, especially in juvenile animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio De Liberato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy.
| | - Goffredo Grifoni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy
| | - Raniero Lorenzetti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Meoli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristiano Cocumelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Mastromattei
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Scholl
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy
| | - Pasquale Rombolà
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Calderini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianpaolo Bruni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Eleni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy
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Deak G, Gherman CM, Ionică AM, Vezendan AD, D'Amico G, Matei IA, Daskalaki AA, Marian I, Damian A, Cozma V, Mihalca AD. Angiostrongylus vasorum in Romania: an extensive survey in red foxes, Vulpes vulpes. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:330. [PMID: 28701176 PMCID: PMC5508484 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2270-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Angiostrongylus vasorum is the causative agent of canine angiostrongylosis, a severe snail-borne disease of dogs. Red foxes are important natural reservoirs of infection, and surveys of foxes provide a more objective picture of the parasite distribution. Our aim was to investigate the possibility of the presence of A. vasorum in red foxes from the western part of Romania and to analyse the risk factors related to the sex, age and geographic origin of the foxes. Between July 2016 and April 2017, 567 hunted red foxes from 10 counties of western Romania were examined by necropsy for the presence of lungworms. Results Overall, the infection with A. vasorum has been found in 24 red foxes (4.2%) originating in four counties (Mureș, Hunedoara, Sălaj and Cluj). There was no significant difference between the prevalence in males and females, between juveniles and adults and between counties. Conclusions This is the first report of autochthonous infections of A. vasorum in Romania, showing a relatively low prevalence and extending eastwards the known distributional range of this parasite in Europe. The presence of autochthonous cases in domestic dogs in Romania remains to be confirmed by further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgiana Deak
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Călin M Gherman
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Angela M Ionică
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Alexandru D Vezendan
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gianluca D'Amico
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ioana A Matei
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Aikaterini A Daskalaki
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ionuț Marian
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Aurel Damian
- Department of Comparative Anatomy, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Vasile Cozma
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrei D Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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