Disseminated angiostrongylosis with massive cardiac and cerebral involvement in a dog from Italy

Parasitol Res. 2011 Aug;109(2):505-8. doi: 10.1007/s00436-011-2293-8. Epub 2011 Feb 24.

Abstract

A case of disseminated angiostrongylosis caused by Angiostrongylus vasorum in a dog living in Italy is here described. The dog was referred for severe respiratory distress and epileptic seizures; clinicopathological findings were consistent with severe pneumonia associated with right-sided heart failure and multifocal involvement of the brain. Bronchoalveolar fluid analysis identified a multitude of nematode larvae, identified as A. vasorum by conventional and biomolecular (PCR) methods. The major anatomo-histopathological lesions were chronic granulomatous pneumonia, a severe multifocal granulomatous myocarditis and multifocal mild vascular and inflammatory disease in the brain. A. vasorum should be included among the differentials of dogs with cardiovascular and neurologic disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Angiostrongylus / isolation & purification*
  • Animals
  • Brain / parasitology
  • Brain / pathology
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / parasitology
  • Dog Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Dog Diseases / parasitology*
  • Dog Diseases / pathology
  • Dogs
  • Encephalitis / complications
  • Encephalitis / parasitology*
  • Encephalitis / pathology
  • Heart / parasitology
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Italy
  • Lung / parasitology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Male
  • Microscopy
  • Myocarditis / parasitology*
  • Myocarditis / pathology
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Pneumonia / complications
  • Pneumonia / parasitology*
  • Pneumonia / pathology
  • Strongylida Infections / diagnosis
  • Strongylida Infections / pathology
  • Strongylida Infections / veterinary*