Abstract
Dogs infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum, a potentially lethal parasite parasitizing the heart and pulmonary arteries, may present severe respiratory, haematological and neurological signs. In this first large-scale seroepidemiological survey, 4003 sera originating from Germany and 4030 from the UK were tested by an ELISA for the detection of circulating antigen of A. vasorum, and by a separate ELISA detecting specific antibodies. In Germany, where mainly western federal states were sampled, 0·3% (n = 13, CI: 0·2–0·6%) of dogs were positive in both ELISAs, whereas in total 0·5% (n = 20, CI: 0·3–0·8%) were antigen-positive and 2·25% (n = 90, CI: 1·8–2·8%) were positive for specific antibodies. Regions with antigen- and antibody-positive animals were overlapping. In the UK, where mainly the south of the country was sampled, 0·97% (n = 39, CI: 0·7–1·3%) of dogs were antigen- and antibody positive. In total, 1·32% (n = 53, CI: 1·0–1·7%) were antigen-positive, and 3·2% (n = 129, CI: 2·7–3·8%) were positive for specific antibodies, again in overlapping regions. These results confirm the occurrence of A. vasorum in a random dog population originating from large parts of the countries investigated. The use of the tests alone or in combination was considered as a function of their sensitivities and specificities, in order to guide efficient clinical and epidemiological application.
Highlights
Angiostrongylus vasorum is a nematode parasite of the right heart and pulmonary arteries of dogs and foxes, and uses Gastropoda as intermediate hosts (Guilhon, 1963; Rosen et al 1970)
The objective of this research was to perform a sero-epidemiological survey of circulating antigens of A. vasorum and of specific antibodies against A. vasorum in sera of dogs originating from Germany and the UK
All samples were stored at −20 °C before and after sending them to the Institute of Parasitology in Zurich, where they were analysed for the presence of circulating A. vasorum antigens in a sandwichELISA using mono- and polyclonal antibodies, as previously described (Schnyder et al 2011)
Summary
Angiostrongylus vasorum is a nematode parasite of the right heart and pulmonary arteries of dogs and foxes, and uses Gastropoda as intermediate hosts (Guilhon, 1963; Rosen et al 1970). The parasite was first described in France in the 19th century (Serres, 1854), followed by reports of endemic foci in southwestern France (Cuillé and Darraspen, 1930), Ireland (Roche and Kelliher, 1968), Switzerland (Wolff et al 1969), England (Jacobs and Prole, 1975) and Italy (Poli et al 1984). A. vasorum has increasingly been reported in extended areas in central and western European countries and in Canada (Conboy, 2004) in dogs and wild carnivores. Angiostrongylus vasorum was described mainly in south-western regions. In the UK the presence of A. vasorum was originally described to be restricted
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