Angiostrongylus vasorum

These nematode worms are small and pinkish in color.[3] The length is 14.0–20.5 mm.[3] The width is 0.170-0.306 mm.[3]

Females have a barbers pole appearance.

Body of female Angiostrongylus vasorum, detail of white genital strands wrapped around the digestive tract

The life cycle begins when L3 larvae are ingested by a definitive host, primarily the fox or dog. This can be through eating mollusc (intermediate hosts), frogs (paraentenic hosts), or from food infected with slime from the slugs or snails. The L3 larvae migrate to the mesenteric lymph nodes and moult to L4, and L5. The L5 larvae migrate through the portal circulation and through the liver and the adults end up at the pulmonary artery or right side of the heart.

The adults then mate and produce eggs. The eggs move to the alveolar capillaries via the circulation and hatch to L1 larvae. The L1 larvae burrow though the alveolar and are then coughed up and swallowed. L1 larvae are therefore passed in the faeces of infected cannids.

The L1 larvae infect intermediate hosts (primarily slugs and snails) by penetrating the foot of the mollusc and develop to L3 within.

Adult worms can live for 2 years. The pre-patent period is 6–10 weeks.

Pathology is from both the adult worms, eggs and larvae.

Cardio-respiratory signs are one clinical symptom. Chronic, coughing, exercise intolerance, dyspnoea and tachypnoea in young dogs is due to blood vessels being blocked by adults, eggs and larvae.

The parasite also causes coagulopathies. Haematomas and prolonged bleeding are as a result of thrombocytopaenia (a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood). Clotting factors V and VIII are also reduced. Hypochromic anaemia is another symptom, also used in diagnosis and is due to the parasite interfering with haemoglobin synthesis.

Angiostrongylus vasorum also causes neurological damage. These present as ataxia, paresis, loss of vision, behavioural changes and seizures. All these symptoms are as a direct result of CNS haemorrhages.

Diagnosis is made from a combination of clinical signs and tests.

Imaging can show lung lesions in the peripheral lobes. Blood tests, showing eosinophillia, poor clotting ability and speed as well as hypochomric anemia all point towards a diagnosis. Some cases may also have hypercalcaemia the cause of this unknown but may relate to granulomatous inflammation and macrophage production of alpha 1 hydroxylase. Faecal examination using the Baerman technique are unreliable, as egg output is irregular and the pre-patent period of the parasite is relatively long. However this test is more sensitive than a faecal smear examination. Multiple samples help reduce the risk of a false negative but should not be relied upon.

Post mortem examination can also reveal the causative agent to be Angiosrongylus vasorum. Again, lung lesions (looking for mottled lungs) are seen. Subcutaneous haematomas and enlarged blood vessels are common. Another sign is endocarditis of the right side of the heart and the tricuspid valve.

The natural intermediate hosts of Angiostrongylus vasorum are land slugs, land snails and freshwater snails.[4] Angiostrongylus vasorum shows little host specificity in its intermediate host.[5]

• Arion ater - natural host[3]

Natural definitive hosts are domestic dogs[4] and various other carnivores include:[6]

• red fox Vulpes vulpes[7]
• pampas fox Pseudalopex gymnocerus
• hoary fox Pseudalopex vetulus
• crab-eating fox Dusicyon thous
• wolf Canis lupus
• coyote Canis latrans
• African desert fox Fennecus zerda[3]
• European badger Meles meles[8]

Angiostrongylus vasorum lives in the right ventricle of the heart and the pulmonary artery.[4] The infection can be fatal in dogs.[7]

Natural paratenic hosts can be frogs, lizards, mice, rats.[4]

Experimental intermediate hosts of Angiostrongylus vasorum include:

• Biomphalaria glabrata - (experimental)[4]
• Biomphalaria tenagophila - (experimental)[9]

Other known experimental hosts include:[3]

• slugs: Arion vulgaris (referred as Arion lusitanicus), Arion hortensis, Deroceras reticulatum, Limax flavus, Laevicaulis alte.
• land snails: Achatina fulica, Arianta arbustorum, Bradybaena similaris, Cepaea nemoralis, Cochlodina laminata, Eceparypha physana, Helix pomatia, Cornu aspersum, Prosopeas javanicum, Subulina octona, Succinea putris.
• freshwater snails: Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Physa sp.

Experimental definitive hosts of Angiostrongylus vasorum include:

• jackal Canis aureus[3]
• Arvicanthis niloticus, an African rat[3]

The native area (enzootic) of Angiostrongylus vasorum is Western Europe (United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Spain).[4][7]

Up to 23% of foxes are infected in southeast England. 5% of patent infected dogs are clinically healthy. There is a correlation between high fox incidence and domestic dog incidence, logically leading to the assumption that the fox is an important wildlife reservoir of this parasite.

Other known areas include

• * Europe: Denmark,[10] Germany, Italy, Switzerland[7] and Portugal[6]
• Africa: Uganda[7]
• Asia: Turkey and countries of the former USSR[7]
• Northern America: Canada (Newfoundland[7]), the United States[4]

Larvae of the first stage were found in Australia,[4] Argentina and Greece.[3]

The area where this species is found is expanding.[2]

It has also been reported from South America: Brazil and Colombia,[7] but molecular analysis revealed that Angiostrongylus vasorum from Brazil has a different genotype.[6] Thus it is possible that it is a different species in Brazil and in elsewhere in South America.[6]

In Europe imidacloprid 10%/moxidectin 2.5% is approved for treatment and prevention of Angiostrongylus vasorum in dogs. For treatment of infected dogs, a single dose should be administered. A further veterinary examination 30 days after treatment is recommended as some animals may require a second treatment. In endemic areas, monthly application will prevent angiostrongylosis and patent infection with Angiostrongylus vasorum.[11]

• Ash, L. R. (1970). "Diagnostic morphology of the third-stage larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Angiostrongylus vasorum, Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, and Anafilaroides rostratus (Nematoda: Metastrongyloidea)". The Journal of Parasitology. 56 (2): 249–253. doi:10.2307/3277651. JSTOR 3277651. PMID 5445821..
• Braga, F. R.; Carvalho, R. O.; Araujo, J. M.; Silva, A. R.; Araújo, J. V.; Lima, W. S.; Tavela, A. O.; Ferreira, S. R. (2009). "Predatory activity of the fungi Duddingtonia flagrans, Monacrosporium thaumasium, Monacrosporium sinense and Arthrobotrys robusta on Angiostrongylus vasorum first-stage larvae". Journal of Helminthology. 83 (4): 303–8. doi:10.1017/S0022149X09232342. PMID 19216825..
• Nicolle, A. P.; Chetboul, V.; Tessier-Vetzel, D.; Carlos Sampedrano, C.; Aletti, E.; Pouchelon, J. L. (2006). "Severe pulmonary arterial hypertension due to Angiostrongylosus vasorum in a dog". The Canadian Veterinary Journal. 47 (8): 792–795. PMC 1524835. PMID 16933559.
• Perry, A. W.; Hertling, R.; Kennedy, M. J. (1991). "Angiostrongylosis with disseminated larval infection associated with signs of ocular and nervous disease in an imported dog". The Canadian Veterinary Journal. 32 (7): 430–431. PMC 1480994. PMID 17423821.
• Traversa, D.; Di Cesare, A.; Conboy, G. (2010). "Canine and feline cardiopulmonary parasitic nematodes in Europe: Emerging and underestimated". Parasites & Vectors. 3: 62. doi:10.1186/1756-3305-3-62. PMC 2923136. PMID 20653938.

• Lifecycle of Angiostrongylus vasorum video