Lungworms of dogs + cats Flashcards
Where are L1 found?
Normally in faeces
What migration do they partake in?
Lympho-tracheal
What are the lungworms of dogs?
- Angiostrongylus vasorum (Heartworm of dogs)
- Oslerus osleri
- Crenosoma vulpis, Filaroides hirthi
What is the lungworm in cats?
Aelurostrongylus abstrusus
Where are adult Angiostrongylus vasorum found?
Pulmonary artery + right ventricle
What is the intermediate host of A. vasorum?
Slugs + snails
What is the paratenic host of A. vasorum?
Frogs
What is the life cycle of Angiostrongylus vasorum?
*L1 in faeces - ingested by slugs
*L1-L3 development dependent on temperature
*Slugs are ingested by dogs
*PPP = 5-8weeks
*Adults in blood vessels associated w heart
*Females = ovoviviparous
What are clinical signs of Angiostrongylus vasorum?
- Often asymptomatic but can cause sudden death
- Respiratory
- Coughing
- Dyspnoea
- Weight loss
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Coagulopathies
- Fluctuating haematoma/bleeding disorders
- Neurological
How is Angiostrongylus vasorum diagnosed?
- Antigen SNAP test - species specific can differentiate from other lungworms
- Radiography
- Enlarged heart and pulmonary artery
- Patchy alveolar and interstitial pattern
- Differentiate from other lungworms
*L1 in faeces, trans-tracheal wash or bronchoalveolar lavage - ‘Dorsal notch’ on the tail of the L1
- 300 to 400 μm
- Baermann apparatus to detect L1
- low sensitivity
- repeat samples
What is the treatment of Angiostrongylus vasorum?
- Moxidectin
- Milbemycin oxime
- Fenbendazole
How would you control Angiostrongylus vasorum?
- Corticosteroids
- Cage rest during treatment (2-3 days)
- Prophylaxis – monthly treatment with macrocyclic lactones
- When possible dogs should be prevented from ingesting snails or slugs.
What is a reservoir host for Angiostrongylus vasorum?
Foxes
What is the pre patent period of aelurostrongylus abstrusus?
5-6weeks
What is the paratenic host of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus?
Small mammal
Frog
Lizard
Where is Aelurostrongylus abstrusus found + what size?
Lung parenchyma
V small - 10mm
What is significant about Aelurostrongylus abstrusus L1?
L1 in faeces
S shaped tail
350-400um
What does Aelurostrongylus abstrusus cause?
- Normally asymptomatic
- Common (~7% cats infected)
- Coughing/respiratory disease
- Hyperplasia of the bronchioles, alveolar ducts and pulmonary arteries
How is Aelurostrongylus abstrusus diagnosed?
- L1 in faeces – Baermann technique
- fresh faecal samples within a 3-7 day period
- L1 in transtracheal wash or bronchoalveolar lavage
How would you treat an infection of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus?
- Fenbendazole - for at least 3 days, up to 7 days.
- Moxidectin, Emodepside
What is the life cycle of Oslerus osleri?
- DIRECT LIFE CYCLE
- Adults in nodules in trachea
- Females are ovoviviparous
- Larvated eggs/L1 are passed by the female.
- L1 are released into the tracheal lumen, move up to the pharynx, swallowed and passed in faeces.
How can auto-infection of O. osleri occur?
- Infective L1 penetrate into the intestinal wall without leaving the host
- Migrate to the trachea, and develop into adult parasites
How does O. osleri transmission from bitch to pup occur?
- L1 in sputum
- Transmission mainly by the bitch grooming/licking its pup
- Upon ingestion/introduction into the mouth of the pup, L1 cross the intestinal wall, travel via the lymphatics and blood system to the lungs and trachea.
What does Oslerus osleri cause?
- Tracheo-bronchitis
- Coughing
How is Oslerus osleri infection diagnosed?
- Young dogs, 1-2 years old (PPP = 10-18 weeks)
- Bronchoscopy to identify nodules
- Larvae in faeces (low sensitivity)
- Transtracheal wash or bronchoalveolar lavage cytology or tracheal swabs may reveal `larvae or eggs
How would you treat an infection of Oslerus osleri?
*Fenbendazole
What lungworm has a L1 with straight pointed tail and an adult worm with anterior cuticular rings?
Crenasoma vulpis
What lungworm is diagnosed by ‘lemon’ shaped eggs?
Eucoleus aerophilus
