Cardiopulmonary nematodes of dogs and cats cause parasitic diseases of central relevance in current veterinary practice. In the recent past the distribution of canine and feline heartworms and lungworms has increased in various geographical areas, including Europe. This is true especially for the metastrongyloids Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, Angiostrongylus vasorum and Crenosoma vulpis, the filarioid Dirofilaria immitis and the trichuroid Eucoleus aerophilus (syn. Capillaria aerophila). The reasons of this emergence are little known but many drivers such as global warming, changes in vector epidemiology and movements in animal populations, may be taken into account. The purpose of this article is to review the knowledge of the most important heartworm and lungworm infections of dogs and cats in Europe. In particular recent advances in epidemiology, clinical and control are described and discussed.

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Canine and feline cardiopulmonary parasitic nematodes in Europe: emerging and underestimated

Canine pulmonary angiostrongylosis: the influence of climate on parasite distribution.

Objective – The aim of this article is to review Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in dogs, including the life cycle, signalment, clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment. Apparent changes in the epidemiology of this unique parasite are considered, alongside information available regarding its recent geographic spread.

Etiology – A. vasorum is a metastrongyloid parasite capable of causing an array of clinical problems in dogs, including cardiorespiratory, coagulopathic, and neurologic signs. Currently, the parasite has a worldwide distribution; however, it usually arises in small pockets of enzootic foci. Recent reports suggest a changing distribution of this parasite, which has renewed interest in its epidemiology and in the risk of expansion to new areas including mainland North America.

Diagnosis – A definitive diagnosis of angiostrongylosis is usually made using the modified Baermann technique either using feces or tracheobronchial secretions; however, this review also discusses novel methods such as serologic and molecular techniques.

Therapy – Once a diagnosis of angiostrongylosis is made, prompt treatment should follow with anthelmintic drugs (such as moxidectin/imidacloprid, milbemycin oxime, or fenbendazole) and supportive care dependent upon the patient's clinical signs. Currently, there is no proven prophylactic regime.

Prognosis – The prognosis appears to be very dependent upon the severity of clinical signs at presentation. A. vasorum can be fatal and death may be sudden. However, if a prompt diagnosis is made and appropriate treatment is administered complete clinical resolution is possible.

Canine angiostrongylosis: an emerging disease in Europe

Disease caused by Angiostrongylus vasorum is increasingly diagnosed in dogs, as the geographic range of the parasite increases along with awareness among clinicians. Diagnosis, treatment and prevention are not always straightforward, although recent developments offer hope for improved options in future. Understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis remains poor. This paper provides an overview of the current state of knowledge of this parasitic disease, focussing on the most recent developments and advances.

Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in dogs: continuing spread and developments in diagnosis and treatment.

Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in dogs: Presentation and risk factors.

Angiostrongylus vasorum is a metastrongylid nematode parasite that resides in the pulmonary arteries and right ventricle of dogs and other canids Since its discovery in France in 1866 by Baillet ([Rosen and others 1970][1]), A vasorum has been reported in dogs in Europe (Denmark, France, Germany,

Emerging canine angiostrongylosis in northern England: five fatal cases.

Angiostrongylus vasorum is a metastrongylid nematode parasite that resides in the pulmonary arteries and right ventricle of dogs and other canids. Since its discovery in France in 1866 by Baillet (Rosen and others 1970), A vasorum has been reported in dogs in Europe (Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK), Africa (Uganda), South America (Brazil and Columbia) and Canada (Newfoundland) (Brennan and others 2004, Bourque and others 2008, Traversa and Guglielmini 2008). It is widely assumed that foxes act as a reservoir of infection for dogs and a recent study has shown that infection is endemic in foxes in areas of the UK where there is a high incidence of A vasorum infection in canines (Morgan and others 2008). In the UK, canine A vasorum infection was first reported in Cornwall in 1982 (Simpson and Neal 1982) with further cases appearing in South Wales in 1987 (Patteson and others 1987, Trees 1987). In the past decade, the disease has been increasingly diagnosed in dogs in the south east of England (Chapman and others 2004) and recently an autochthonous case was reported in Glasgow (J. Dukes-McEwan, personal communication). There have so far been no published cases of canine A vasorum infection in northern England, and infection has been absent in foxes (Morgan and others 2008).

Although clinical signs in association with A vasorum infection in dogs can be variable, they typically represent three main syndromes: cardiorespiratory signs, coagulopathies and neurological dysfunction (Koch and Willesen 2008). Dogs with cardiorespiratory signs present with a history that may include chronic coughing, exercise intolerance, syncope, dyspnoea and tachypnoea (Bolt and others 1994), whereas the coagulopathies can result in anaemia, subcutaneous haematomas, internal haemorrhages and prolonged bleeding from wounds or after surgery (Ramsey and others 1996, …

Emerging canine angiostrongylosis in northern England: five fatal cases

DERMOID sinus (also termed pilonidal sinus, pilonidal cyst or dermoid cyst) is a developmental anomaly characterised by incomplete separation of the skin from the neural tube during embryonic development (Lord and others 1957, Mann and Stratton 1966, Antin 1970). Six different types of dermoid sinus exist and classification is based on their relationship to the supraspinous ligament (Mann and Stratton 1966, Kiviranta and others 2011). This short communication describes the clinical, MRI and histopathological features of a type IV dermoid sinus and spina bifida in a young Victorian bulldog.

An 11-month-old male Victorian bulldog was referred for investigation of progressive paraparesis, moderate hindlimb ataxia and moderate proprioceptive deficits in both hindlimbs. At physical examination, it was noted that the hair was growing in a spiral fashion on the dorsal midline in the mid-thoracic region. A small, fluctuating mass was palpable subcutaneously and evoked considerable pain for the dog; the mass was continuous with a firm fistulous cord attached to the underlying tissues. A round-shaped opening in the skin (diameter 0.5 cm) containing no exudates was found after clipping of the hair.

Radiographs of the thoracic and thoracolumbar spine were unremarkable. MRI scans (Vet-MR Grande; Esaote) of the dog's thoracic region were obtained in three planes of orientation before and after the intravenous administration of 0.1 mmol/kg gadolinium (Magnevist; Schering). Transverse T1-weighted and T2-weighted images revealed an invagination of the epidermal and dermal tissues towards the spinous process of T8. A fistular tract was visible connecting the spinal cord with the opened skin layers. The normal morphology of T8 was lost: this vertebra lacked a normal vertebral arch and the spinous process …

Dermoid sinus type IV associated with spina bifida in a young Victorian bulldog.

An effective surgical procedure for the removal of suspected neoplasms of the scent gland in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) is presented. Information on the range of neoplastic processes and their clinical behaviour, based on the excision and morphological examination of localised scent gland abnormalities of 16 privately owned male gerbils is also provided. This report includes the first description of scent gland epitheliomas.

D. Denk

Papers

Emerging canine angiostrongylosis in northern England: five fatal cases.

Emerging canine angiostrongylosis in northern England: five fatal cases

Dermoid sinus type IV associated with spina bifida in a young Victorian bulldog.

Surgical excision and morphological evaluation of altered abdominal scent glands in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)