Irreversible Ocular Lesions in a Dog With Angiostrongylus Vasorum Infection

Top Companion Anim Med. 2019 Sep:36:4-8. doi: 10.1053/j.tcam.2019.05.001. Epub 2019 May 3.

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.

Keywords: angiostrongylosis; bilateral panuveitis; dog; intraocular parasite; retinal detachment; subpleural nodules.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Angiostrongylus / isolation & purification*
  • Animals
  • Dog Diseases / diagnosis
  • Dog Diseases / drug therapy
  • Dog Diseases / parasitology*
  • Dogs
  • Eye Diseases / diagnosis
  • Eye Diseases / drug therapy
  • Eye Diseases / parasitology
  • Eye Diseases / veterinary*
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Glaucoma / complications
  • Italy
  • Lens Subluxation / parasitology
  • Lens Subluxation / veterinary
  • Lung Diseases, Parasitic / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Diseases, Parasitic / veterinary
  • Panuveitis / parasitology
  • Panuveitis / veterinary
  • Retinal Detachment / parasitology
  • Retinal Detachment / veterinary
  • Strongylida Infections / diagnosis
  • Strongylida Infections / drug therapy
  • Strongylida Infections / veterinary*

Supplementary concepts

  • Angiostrongyliasis