Brain and spinal cord haemorrhages associated with Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in four dogs

Vet Rec. 2006 Jun 24;158(25):858-63. doi: 10.1136/vr.158.25.858.

Abstract

Multifocal haemorrhages associated with Angiostrongylus vasorum infection were observed in the central nervous system of four dogs with neurological signs including depression, seizures, spinal pain and paresis. In magnetic resonance images the majority of the lesions were isointense or slightly hyperintense in T1-weighted images, hyperintense in T2-weighted images and hypointense in T2*-weighted (gradient echo) images, compatible with haemorrhages more than seven days old. Lesions were found in the brain of three of the dogs and in the spinal cord of two. The cerebrospinal fluid contained high concentrations of protein and evidence of erythrophagia. All the dogs had coagulopathy and pulmonary haemorrhage of varying severity. A vasorum larvae were detected in the faeces of each of the dogs. Neural A vasorum was confirmed at postmortem examination in two dogs.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Angiostrongylus / pathogenicity*
  • Animals
  • Bleeding Time
  • Blood Cell Count
  • Brain Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Diseases / etiology
  • Brain Diseases / veterinary*
  • Dog Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Dog Diseases / etiology*
  • Dog Diseases / parasitology
  • Dogs
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Hemorrhage / diagnostic imaging
  • Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Hemorrhage / veterinary*
  • Lethargy
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / veterinary
  • Male
  • Myelography / veterinary
  • Purpura / etiology
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / etiology
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / veterinary
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / etiology
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / veterinary*
  • Strongylida Infections / complications
  • Strongylida Infections / veterinary*