Regional report on Angiostrongylus vasorum in Colombia: Genetic similarity to European lineage

M K Lange; F Penagos-Tabares; J Vélez; J Gutiérrez; J Hirzmann; J J Chaparro-Gutiérrez; Diego Piedrahita; A Taubert; C Hermosilla

doi:10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.03.004

Regional report on Angiostrongylus vasorum in Colombia: Genetic similarity to European lineage

Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2018 Aug:13:21-23. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.03.004. Epub 2018 Mar 20.

Authors

M K Lange¹, F Penagos-Tabares², J Vélez³, J Gutiérrez⁴, J Hirzmann⁵, J J Chaparro-Gutiérrez⁶, Diego Piedrahita⁷, A Taubert⁸, C Hermosilla⁹

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University, Schubertstraße 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany. Electronic address: malin.k.lange@vetmed.uni-giessen.de.
² Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University, Schubertstraße 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany; CIBAV research group, Veterinary Medicine School, Faculty of Agrarian Sciences, University of Antioquia, Carrera 75 No 65-87, Medellín, Colombia. Electronic address: felipe.penagos@udea.edu.co.
³ Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University, Schubertstraße 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany; CIBAV research group, Veterinary Medicine School, Faculty of Agrarian Sciences, University of Antioquia, Carrera 75 No 65-87, Medellín, Colombia. Electronic address: juan.velez@vetmed.uni-giessen.de.
⁴ CIBAV research group, Veterinary Medicine School, Faculty of Agrarian Sciences, University of Antioquia, Carrera 75 No 65-87, Medellín, Colombia. Electronic address: je.gutierrez@unal.edu.co.
⁵ Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University, Schubertstraße 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany. Electronic address: Joerg.hirzmann@vetmed.uni-giessen.de.
⁶ CIBAV research group, Veterinary Medicine School, Faculty of Agrarian Sciences, University of Antioquia, Carrera 75 No 65-87, Medellín, Colombia. Electronic address: jenny.chaparro@udea.edu.co.
⁷ CIBAV research group, Veterinary Medicine School, Faculty of Agrarian Sciences, University of Antioquia, Carrera 75 No 65-87, Medellín, Colombia. Electronic address: diego.piedrahita@udea.edu.co.
⁸ Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University, Schubertstraße 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany. Electronic address: anja.taubert@vetmed.uni-giessen.de.
⁹ Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University, Schubertstraße 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany. Electronic address: carlos.r.hermosilla@vetmed.uni-giessen.de.

PMID: 31014876
DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.03.004

Abstract

The canine lungworm Angiostrongylus vasorum is considered neglected in South America and was only sporadically reported in dogs and wildlife. Gastropods act as obligatory intermediate hosts for this parasitosis. We here analysed Achatina fulica (African giant snail) populations from 5 regions of Colombia for A. vasorum infections. In total, 609 snails were collected from the departments Antioquia, Valle del Cauca and Putumayo. Angiostrongylus vasorum-infected A. fulica were found in all departments with a total prevalence of 3.9%. Larvae originating from Putumayo were molecularly characterized and identified as the European lineage of A. vasorum. This regional report shows for the first time the presence of A. vasorum in intermediate hosts in Colombia and the European genotype in South America.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Angiostrongylus / genetics*
Animals
Colombia / epidemiology
Dog Diseases / epidemiology
Dog Diseases / parasitology*
Dogs
Europe / epidemiology
Genotype
Larva / genetics
Snails / parasitology*
Strongylida Infections / epidemiology
Strongylida Infections / veterinary*