Autochtonous infection of dogs and slugs with Angiostrongylus vasorum in Hungary

Abstract

On the course of a helminthological survey of the dogs of Baranya County, Hungary Angiostrongylus vasorum infection was detected in two asymptomatic dogs. Identification of the parasite was based on morphology of the first-stage larvae (L1) isolated from droppings, and successful experimental infection with first stage larvae to laboratory reared Discus rotundatus and Lissachatina fulica snails, in order to exclude species of the family Filaroididae that have similar larvae to A. vasorum. While angiostrongylosis is widespread among foxes, this is the first report of A. vasorum infection in housedog in Hungary. In gardens, where infected dogs were being kept 91 specimens of 6 species of limacid and arionid slugs were collected of which 5 specimens of Arion lusitanicus were found to carry larvae of A. vasorum. Dogs usually do not ingest such large slugs willingly. Frogs are known to act as paratenic hosts in the life cycle of A. vasorum. Since one of the infected dogs harboured also infection with the intestinal trematode Alaria alata, of which frogs certainly play the role of the second intermediate host, therefore it is assumed that in this case the dog became infected with A. vasorum by eating frogs.