Seroepidemiological survey and spatial analysis of the occurrence of Angiostrongylus vasorum in Swiss dogs in relation to biogeographic aspects
Abstract
Angiostrongylus vasorum is a metastrongyloid nematode living in the pulmonary arteries and in the right heart causing potentially fatal respiratory distress, coagulopathies and a wide range of other clinical signs in dogs. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence and distribution of A. vasorum in Swiss dogs and to identify correlations with biogeographic aspects. A total of 6136 dog sera from all over the country submitted by veterinarians for haematological or chemical analyses were examined for the presence of circulating A. vasorum parasite antigen and specific antibodies against A. vasorum by ELISA. The combined seroprevalence for both specific antibodies and antigen was 0.96% (95% confidence intervals: 0.7-1.2%), while the overall antibody prevalence was 3.08% (CI: 2.7-3.5%) and the antigen prevalence 2.17% (CI: 1.8-2.6%). The highest prevalence for dogs identified as positive in both ELISAs was detected in Western Switzerland (around Geneva, 2.21%, CI: 0.7-5.1%), representing a new endemic area. Known endemic regions in Southern Switzerland (Ticino, 2.17%, CI: 1.0-4.0%) and in the High Rhine area (northern Switzerland, 1.11%, CI: 0.4-2.4%) were confirmed. Spatial analysis identified a cluster with a rad...Continue Reading
References
Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in a coyote (Canis latrans) from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Citations
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome
Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a rare genetic disorder of abnormal lymphocyte survival caused by defective Fas mediated apoptosis. Discover the latest research on ALPS here.
Blood Clotting Disorders
Thrombophilia includes conditions with increased tendency for excessive blood clotting. Blood clotting occurs when the body has insufficient amounts of specialized proteins that make blood clot and stop bleeding. Here is the latest research on blood clotting disorders.